SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Screening and Treatment for Unhealthy Alcohol Use During Hospitalization

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This project evaluated an inpatient Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol for unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) at a single safety-net hospital in Austin, Texas. The program was carried out by substance use navigator social workers (SUNs) and included nurse-administered AUDIT-PC screening, full AUDIT assessment for positive screens, motivational interviewing, medication initiation for AUD (MAUD) when appropriate, referral to outpatient treatment, and post-discharge follow-up.<br /><br />Over the first two years (Sept 2022–Sept 2024), 27,914 patients were admitted and 18,146 (65%) were screened. Of those, 1,085 (6.0%) screened positive, 800 received the intervention, and 489 completed full AUDIT follow-up data collection. Among the 489 patients, the mean AUDIT score improved substantially, dropping by 13.8 points overall from pre- to post-intervention. Patients who had a hospital return encounter within 30 days improved less than those without a return encounter (AUDIT decrease of 9.0 vs 16.1 points), suggesting more persistent drinking problems in this group.<br /><br />Readmissions were common: 128 of 489 patients (26%) had a return hospital encounter within 30 days, and nearly 60% of those encounters were related to continued alcohol use. Patients with return encounters were more likely to be older than 50, unhoused, and publicly insured through Medicaid or MAP. Initial AUDIT severity and MAUD initiation were similar between those with and without return encounters.<br /><br />Overall, the study suggests that inpatient SBIRT can engage hospitalized patients with UAU/AUD and reduce drinking in the short term, but many patients—especially those with significant social vulnerability—need stronger post-discharge support, intensive case management, and community health resources to sustain improvement.

Asset Subtitle

Jananie Ramesh

Meta Tag

Author List Alanna Boulton, Christopher Moriates, Frances J. Ibarra, Jananie Ramesh, John Weems, Mary Velasquez, Michael Pignone, Nicole Kluz, Ohenewaa Dede-Bamfo, Patrick Chang, Rachel Holliman

Category Research

Concept Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds

Concept Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Concept Alcohol Use Disorder

Concept Screening

Concept Brief Intervention

Distinguished Finalist

Presenter Organization Dell Medical School

Presenting Author Jananie Ramesh

Track Outcomes Research

Keywords

SBIRT

unhealthy alcohol use

alcohol use disorder

AUDIT screening

motivational interviewing

medication for AUD

substance use navigator

hospital readmission

post-discharge follow-up

safety-net hospital

Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds

Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Alcohol Use Disorder

Screening

Brief Intervention