Acceptability of a computerized alcohol screening and advice routine in an emergency department setting-a patient perspective

Disseminating screening and brief alcohol intervention in routine emergency department (ED) care seems to be a demanding challenge due to the complexity of the emergency setting. Further empirical realistic intervention models need to be developed that are appropriate for staff and patients before such models are tested in large scale controlled trials. This study explores patients' acceptance of a computerized opportunistic alcohol screening, followed by a personalized printout as feedback, at an emergency department performed by ordinary emergency department staff. In all, 44 patients were interviewed after performing the computerized screening test. The majority of patients were positive about answering the questions about alcohol habits, and 95% found it easy to use the touch screen and understand the instructions, even those with little computer experience. Regarding the personalized printout of advice, 76% were positive to this kind of feedback and 93% said they would read the printout. Most patients, 74%, preferred the computerized printout instead of a more personalized feedback from staff members. Whether the computerized advice is sufficient for a change in alcohol habits among excessive drinkers is still to be shown in controlled trials, but the concept could be one means of making preventive measures more feasible in a real-world ED setting. This might provide a basis for dissemination and integration of more extensive interventions in the long term.