Thorley NL, Kumar V, Nightingale P, Radcliffe K. Screening for alcohol use disorders in a genitourinary medicine and contraception clinic: a service evaluation.
Int J STD AIDS 2014;
25:812-6. [PMID:
24501232 DOI:
10.1177/0956462414521168]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Summary National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance advises that all patients routinely undergo alcohol screening. Our service evaluation in a sexual health clinic assessed the acceptability of alcohol screening, the prevalence of hazardous drinking and the uptake of referral to a specialist alcohol service. Three services were evaluated: a genitourinary medicine service, a contraception service and an integrated sexual health service. AUDIT was used to screen 276 patients; those scoring ≥8 were classified as hazardous drinkers. Screening uptake was 58% overall, 58% for the contraception service, 71% for the genitourinary medicine service and 100% for the integrated sexual health service. Overall, 28% had AUDIT scores ≥8. Hazardous drinking rates were higher in the genitourinary medicine (32%) and integrated sexual health services (52%) compared to the contraception service (21%); 7% of hazardous drinkers accepted referral. High rates of hazardous drinking were identified within all three groups, but uptake of referral was low. Alternative strategies to specialist alcohol service referral are discussed.
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