Abstract

There is a gap in the literature when considering the impact of screening using AUDIT-C, the shortened version of the AUDIT, to improve records of alcohol intake in a secondary care environment. Many previous studies have looked into the efficacy and financial cost of AUDIT screening in primary, secondary and emergency care settings. However, in a time and cost limited outpatient's department, implementation of the full AUDIT is not viable. The AUDIT-C is a tool which hasn't been fully utilised by NHS hospitals as a method of detecting and limiting harmful alcohol use in the outpatient population. The following article is a summary of a study to investigate the feasibility of implementing focused and consistent alcohol screening within a gastroenterology outpatients department, an appropriate secondary care environment. It specifically considers the barriers and facilitators in regards to patients and staff members. The primary purpose of the research was to identify the quantitative level of compliance in patients who were delivered the AUDIT-C. Appropriate training is required for effective implementation of assertive screening to be carried out. Further research is required to cement the findings, potentially by broadening implementation to other outpatients' departments at West Middlesex University Hospital (WMUH).

Authors and Affiliations