Implementation of a computerized alcohol advice concept in routine emergency care

Nilsen, Per; Festin, Karin; Guldbrandsson, Karin; Carlfjord, Siw; Holmqvist, Marika; Bendtsen, Preben

doi:10.1016/j.ienj.2008.11.006

« Previous Next »International Emergency Nursing
Volume 17, Issue 2 , Pages 113-121, April 2009

Implementation of a computerized alcohol advice concept in routine emergency care

Per Nilsen, PhD (Associate Professor)
- Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Community Medicine, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +46 13 162634.
Karin Festin, PhD
- Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Community Medicine, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Karin Guldbrandsson, PhD
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish National Institute of Public Health, Östersund, Sweden
Siw Carlfjord, PhM (Student)
- Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Community Medicine, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Marika Holmqvist, PhM (Student)
- Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Community Medicine, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
Preben Bendtsen, PhD (Professor)
- Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Community Medicine, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Received 14 July 2008; received in revised form 7 November 2008; accepted 21 November 2008.

Abstract

Background

There is a growing body of evidence for computer-generated advice for many health behaviours. This study evaluated the implementation of a computerized concept to provide tailored advice on alcohol in a Swedish emergency department (ED).

Aim

The aim was to evaluate the usage of the concept over 12 months: participation rate among the ED population; representativeness of the participants; and participation development over time.

Methods

The target population was defined as all patients aged 18–69 years given a card from ED triage staff with a request to conduct a computerized test about their alcohol use. After completing the 5–10-min programme, the patient received a printout, containing personalised alcohol habit feedback, as calculated by the computer from the patient’s answers. Data for this study were primarily obtained from the computer programme and ED logs.

Results

Forty-one percent of the target population completed the computerized test and received tailored alcohol advice. The number of patients who used the concept showed a slight decreasing trend during the first half of the year, leveling off for the second half of the year.

Conclusion

A computerized concept for provision of alcohol advice can be implemented in an ED without unrealistic demands on staff and with limited external support to attain sustainability.

Keywords: Alcohol advice, Implementation, Usage, Computerized tailored feedback