BACKGROUND

Screening and brief intervention (BI) can reduce risky alcohol use but has not been widely implemented in primary care settings. We sought to implement a screening and telephone-based program within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).

DESIGN

Prior to this program, adult patients were routinely screened using AUDIT-C with no further systematic follow-up. We designed a team-based, tele-care-centered program to (1) follow-up positive screening results or provider referrals with full AUDIT and (2) provide a social worker-administered two-session BI for patients with AUDIT 4-12; those with high AUDIT scores received BI and were offered pharmacotherapy and/or referral for additional support. Repeat AUDIT was administered at 3-6 months.

RESULTS

From March 2021 to May 2023, 3959 patients were screened using AUDIT-C, with 632 (16%) screening positive. Mean age was 44; 47% identified as female, 58% as Hispanic/Latino; 43% received care through the county-based Medical Access Program (MAP). Men, those with commercial insurance, and English-speakers were more likely to screen positive. Using telephone outreach to direct referrals and to those screening positive, trained counselors successfully administered the full AUDIT to 412 participants. Initial AUDIT scores were ≤ 12 (n = 281, 68.2%) and > 12 (n = 131, 31.8%). Among patients who completed the initial AUDIT, mean age was 46; 32% identified as female, 86% as Hispanic/Latino, and 66% were insured through MAP. Of the 412, 400 (97%) completed one counseling session and 297 (72%) completed two. Of the 131 with initial AUDIT > 12, 19 received pharmacotherapy and 13 had one or more visits with our addiction medicine service. For the 251 patients with AUDIT data at 3-6 months, the mean score change was - 4.1 (95% CI - 3.4, - 4.7). Spanish-speaking patients showed larger decreases than English-speakers; there were no other statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Screening and telephone-based BI reduces unhealthy alcohol use in diverse adult FQHC patients.