Substance use-related continuing education course objectives: Alignment with professional competencies.

Background: Novel educational efforts are needed to prepare the current and future interprofessional health care workforce to address the range of substance use-related health problems. A 6-module massive open online course (MOOC) was developed to provide education to health professionals of various disciplines on the fundamentals of substance use-related treatment. The purpose of this project was to match course objectives to substance use-related competencies for 5 disciplines: nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants (PA), and social workers. Methods: Content expert raters within each discipline determined what Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance use and Addiction (AMERSA) core competencies were matched to each objective for the 6 modules of the MOOC. The number of objectives across the 6 modules was summated. Results: All nursing and social work competencies were mapped to the course objectives. For physicians, PAs, and pharmacists, the proportions of knowledge-based competencies that mapped to the course objective were 58%, 76%, and 80%, respectively, and proportions of skill-based competencies that mapped to the course objective were 88%, 83%, and 75%, respectively. For those 3 groups, 100% of attitude-based competencies mapped to the course objective. Conclusions: The competency-based mapping with the MOOC objectives supports the interprofessional design of the course and discipline-specific competencies needed to promote the best outcomes for patients.

Postresidency Impact of Alcohol and Drug Screening and Intervention Training.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many residency programs provide alcohol and drug screening, brief intervention (BI), and referral to treatment (SBIRT) training, hoping to impact residents' future practice activities. Little is known about postresidency use of these skills. This study assesses postresidency impact of SBIRT training. METHODS: Over 3 years, physicians who participated in SBIRT training in four residency programs were recruited for follow-up. Participants chose between a paper and online questionnaire 12-24 months after graduation; participants received $20 gift cards. We first analyzed postresidency responses only (n=74), then compared pre- and posttraining results of those completing both surveys (n=50). RESULTS: Of 182 enrolled graduates, 74 (41%) completed questionnaires. In paired comparisons to their pretraining responses, graduates increased endorsement of statements that BIs can reduce risky use and reduced endorsement of statements that they do not have adequate training or time to address patients' alcohol use, or that discussing alcohol use with patients is uncomfortable. While most barriers to providing interventions were endorsed less frequently by SBIRT-trained clinicians in postresidency surveys, ongoing concerns included poor reimbursement, little time, low success rates, and some discomfort with interventions. Seventy percent of graduates felt motivational interviewing techniques created stronger doctor-patient relationships; 16% reported colleagues in their practices had increased SBIRT activities after they joined the practice. CONCLUSIONS: SBIRT trainees reported high levels of SBIRT activity 12-24 months after graduation and increased SBIRT activities by their colleagues. While some barriers remain, residency training appears to be a promising approach for disseminating SBIRT into clinical practice.

Changes in Nursing Students' Attitudes and Perceptions After Receipt of Enhanced Substance Use-Related Curricular Content.

BACKGROUND: Negative attitudes toward persons who use alcohol and other drugs contribute to suboptimal care. Nurses are in key roles to address the needs of this population, yet they lack the education needed to identify persons who may be at risk because of substance use and intervene accordingly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a substance-use-related curriculum on nursing students' attitudes and therapeutic commitment for working with patients with alcohol- and drug-use-related problems. METHODS: Data were collected for four cohorts of 169 nursing students enrolled in a Master's Entry into Nursing program. Questionnaires included the Person-Centered Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire and the Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire, completed before and after completing the curriculum. Paired samples t test were used to examine pre/post differences for each measure's subscale. RESULTS: Four of the seven Person-Centered Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire subscales showing significant increases were role adequacy, role support, role legitimacy, and general perceptions. Four of the five Drug and Drug Problems Perception Questionnaire subscales showing significant increases were role adequacy, role support, job satisfaction, and role legitimacy; there was a significant change in role-related self-esteem, however, in a negative direction. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the growing evidence of the positive impact of providing evidence-based information and skill development, which enhance alcohol- and drug-related knowledge and competence for nurses entering professional practice.

Does the Length of Time to Complete an Online Program Matter?

Health care providers are challenged to meet the simultaneous demands of delivering clinical care and acquiring new information, especially in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the opioid epidemic, and concurrent escalation in alcohol and other drug use. To address the gap in knowledge related to substance use, screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), a self-paced online educational program, was developed and delivered to 169 learners. Posttest knowledge scores increased for all learners and did not differ based on their pace of completion. Results indicated that this module provides a means for busy clinicians to increase their ability to manage substance use, even if their learning occurs in multiple sessions interrupted by other pressing demands. Future iterations of this course could further enhance clinical competency by addition of an online clinical simulation component. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(11):505-510.].

Psychometric Properties of the Person-Centered Version of the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perceptions Questionnaire (PC-AAPPQ).

AIMS: Given the importance of addressing provider attitudes toward individuals with unhealthy alcohol use and the current emphasis on person-centered language to help decrease stigma and mitigate negative attitudes, the aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a contemporary version of the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perception Questionnaire (AAPPQ) that uses person-centered language and addresses the spectrum of alcohol use. METHODS: The authors created a person-centered version of the AAPPQ (PC-AAPPQ) and conducted a cross-sectional study of its psychometric properties in academic settings in the Northeastern United States. The PC-AAPPQ was administered to 651 nursing students. Reliability analysis of the new instrument was performed using the total sample. Only surveys with complete data (n = 637) were randomly split into two datasets, one used for the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 310) and the other for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 327). RESULTS: Compared to all the models generated from the EFA, neither the original six-factor structure nor the five-factor structure was superior to any of the other models. The results indicate that a seven-factor structure with all 30 items is the best fit for the PC-AAPPQ. CONCLUSIONS: The PC-AAPPQ represents a positive effort to modernize the four-decade-old AAPPQ. This 30-item instrument, which adds one additional subscale, offers a means to assess providers' attitudes using respectful wording that avoids perpetuating negative biases and reinforces efforts to affirm the worth and dignity of the population being treated.

Drug screening and changing marijuana policy: Validation of new single question drug screening tools.

BACKGROUND: Illicit drug use is common in U.S. medical settings. A validated Single Drug Screening Question (SDSQ) containing the word "illegal" is widely used. As marijuana policies change, the present wording may not perform as expected in states legalizing use. This study compares the performance of the validated SDSQ with three different SDSQ wordings. METHODS: Patients, 18 years and older, presenting to a U.S. hospital emergency department were asked to complete a survey containing the existing SDSQ, three new SDSQ versions without the word "illegal," and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Patients were also encouraged to provide a sample for saliva drug testing. RESULTS: Of 297 eligible patients, 200 (67.3%) completed the survey and 141 (70.5% of interview participants) completed saliva testing. Overlapping confidence intervals on the Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis confirmed that sensitivities of all SDSQs were statistically similar for detecting self-reported drug use (65-71%). Combining questionnaire and saliva testing increased drug use detection by 2% and resulted in lower SDSQ sensitivity (58-67%). Specificities were 99-100%. The SDSQ with the highest sensitivity was: "In the last twelve months, did you smoke pot (marijuana), use another street drug, or use a prescription medication "recreationally" (just for the feeling, or using more than prescribed)?" CONCLUSIONS: All four SDSQs demonstrated acceptable sensitivity and high specificity. Removing the term 'illegal' does not result in higher, or lower, reported drug use, though results could vary in states with legalized marijuana. Future research should replicate this study in one or more of these states.

Alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention behaviors among advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) students in clinical settings.

Previous research on training health professionals to identify and address unhealthy alcohol and drug use in patients through screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) has found that training increases knowledge about substance use and increases students' confidence in addressing substance use in patients. To date, however, there is little information on how health professional students integrate SBIRT into individual practice. Within a U.S. SBIRT training consortium, advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) students were required to practice SBIRT in clinical settings and complete assessment logs for each patient screened. Logs documented results from single item alcohol & drug screening questions; AUDIT or DAST responses; brief intervention (BI)/referral to treatment (RT) steps completed and patients' responses. 113 APRN students completed logs on 538 patients (mean age 44; SD 15.0; 53.5% female). Positive single question alcohol screens were more frequent than positive single question drug screens (55.3% vs. 25.5%). More than one third (36%) of the logs included high-risk AUDIT/DAST scores. The most utilized BI components were discussions regarding consequences of use (76%) and safe levels of use (70%), while the most utilized RT steps included referral to a mutual help group (15%) or a specialty treatment program (8%). Positive screening rates found by APRN students were higher than reported rates in most clinical settings. The logs also demonstrated that APRN students employed many of the SBIRT skills they were taught while also helping identify underutilized SBIRT steps, which may be addressed specifically in future SBIRT trainings.

Integrating Substance Use Content in an "Overcrowded" Nursing Curriculum.

Various factors have compelled nurse educators to address the lack of substance use-related content in nursing curriculum. Initiatives to add this content are often met with resistance because of an already crowded curriculum. This article describes a 4-phase process that guided the integration of this specialty content into a prelicensure nursing curriculum and a master's level advanced practice nursing curriculum. Lessons learned and recommendations from those experiences are provided to guide nurse educators undertaking similar efforts.

Preventing Alcohol and Tobacco Exposed Pregnancies: CHOICES Plus in Primary Care.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol and tobacco use are common among U.S. women, yet if used during pregnancy these substances present significant preventable risks to prenatal and perinatal health. Because use of alcohol and tobacco often continue into the first trimester and beyond, especially among women with unintended pregnancies, effective evidence-based approaches are needed to decrease these risk behaviors. This study was designed to test the efficacy of CHOICES Plus, a preconception intervention for reducing the risk of alcohol- and tobacco-exposed pregnancies (AEPs and TEPs). STUDY DESIGN: RCT with two intervention groups: CHOICES Plus (n=131) versus Brief Advice (n=130). Data collected April 2011 to October 2013. Data analysis finalized February 2016. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Settings were 12 primary care clinics in a large Texas public healthcare system. Participants were women who were non-sterile, non-pregnant, aged 18-44 years, drinking more than three drinks per day or more than seven drinks per week, sexually active, and not using effective contraception (N=261). Forty-five percent were smokers. INTERVENTION: Interventions were two CHOICES Plus sessions and a contraceptive visit or Brief Advice and referral to community resources. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were reduced risk of AEP and TEP through 9-month follow-up. RESULTS: In intention-to-treat analyses across 9 months, the CHOICES Plus group was more likely than the Brief Advice group to reduce risk of AEP with an incidence rate ratio of 0.620 (95% CI=0.511, 0.757) and absolute risk reduction of -0.233 (95% CI=-0.239, -0.226). CHOICES Plus group members at risk for both exposures were more likely to reduce TEP risk (incidence rate ratio, 0.597; 95% CI=0.424, 0.840 and absolute risk reduction, -0.233; 95% CI=-0.019, -0.521). CONCLUSIONS: CHOICES Plus significantly reduced AEP and TEP risk. Addressing these commonly co-occurring risk factors in a single preconception program proved both feasible and efficacious in a low-income primary care population. Intervening with women before they become pregnant could shift the focus in clinical practice from treatment of substance-exposed pregnancies to prevention of a costly public health concern. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT01032772.

The Surgeon General's Facing Addiction report: An historic document for health care.

The publication of Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health presents an historic moment not only for the field of addiction medicine, but also for the United States as a nation. The Board of Directors of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse (AMERSA), on behalf of our organization, would like to express our appreciation of the efforts of Dr. Vivek Murthy and the Surgeon General's Office to publish the first surgeon general's report covering substance misuse and substance use disorders.

Development and evaluation of two instruments for assessing screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) competency.

BACKGROUND: Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is shown to be effective in identifying, intervening with, and making appropriate referrals for patients with unhealthy alcohol use. SBIRT training consists of knowledge-based and skill-based components and has increased the use of screening and intervention skills in clinical settings. This article reports on the development and evaluation of 2 SBIRT proficiency checklists for use across institutions to assess SBIRT skills in both simulated and clinical encounters. METHODS: A national panel of 16 experts identified 137 discrete SBIRT skills items for the checklists. From this final list, 2 proficiency checklists were derived: the SBIRT Proficiency Checklist (SPC), composed of 22 questions for videotaped interviews, and the Clinical SBIRT Proficiency Checklist (CSPC), composed of 13 questions for direct clinical observation. An evaluation was conducted to test the reliability of the SPC and to assess the utility of the CSPC. RESULTS: Two checklists for assessing SBIRT proficiency were developed by a collaborative workgroup. Fleiss' kappa analyses indicated moderate agreement. In addition, faculty recorded satisfaction with the CSPC for assessing residents on their SBIRT performance during clinical encounters. CONCLUSIONS: The SPC and the CSPC are practical tools for assessing competence with SBIRT and are easily integrated as standard instruments in a wide range of training settings. Future advancements to the checklists and their evaluation include modification of the SPC rating scale to be consistent with the CSPC, developing a training program for using the checklists, and further testing to improve interrater reliability.

The prevalence of binge drinking among primary care residents.

BACKGROUND: Over one quarter of American adults binge drink, resulting in significant alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. Although brief interventions can decrease patients' alcohol use, many physicians in training do not provide this service. This study examines the prevalence of binge drinking among primary care residents, and the association of resident drinking behaviors with addressing patients' hazardous alcohol use. METHODS: Between July 2013 and August 2014, the authors surveyed all trainees in 6 primary care residency programs. The survey assessed self-reported frequency of binge drinking, confidence working with hazardous drinkers, and the performance of brief interventions when hazardous drinking was detected in patients. RESULTS: 221 of 246 residents completed the survey (response rate 89.8%). Half of residents (109/221) reported at least one episode of binge drinking in the prior year, and 18% (39/221) reported binge drinking at least once a month. In multivariable analysis, monthly binge drinking was associated with male gender (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-5.4) and year of training (OR 0.25 for Year 3 vs. Year 1, 95% CI 0.07-0.90). Few residents felt confident they could help patients cut down or quit alcohol, regardless of personal binge drinking history (19% for those who binged monthly, 24% for those who binged 1-11 times a year, and 27% for those who never binged, p for trend = 0.31). Performance of brief interventions did not vary by personal binge drinking history. CONCLUSIONS: Binge drinking is common among primary care residents. In addition to training residents to effectively intervene with hazardous drinkers, residency programs should address the high prevalence of binge drinking by their physicians in training.

Diagnostic performance of glycated hemoglobin for diabetic retinopathy in non-diabetic older overweight/obese African-Americans.

OBJECTIVES: Although clinicians do not routinely screen for diabetic retinopathy in non-diabetic patients, previous studies have shown that diabetic retinopathy can occur in patients with prediabetes. However, due to the limitations of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in overweight/obese subjects, African-Americans and older adults, little is known about the correlation between HbA1c and diabetic retinopathy in non-diabetic older overweight/obese African-Americans. The aims of this study were to determine the association between HbA1c and diabetic retinopathy, and the optimal diagnostic threshold of HbA1c that predicts diabetic retinopathy in non-diabetic older overweight/obese African-Americans. METHODS: The 2005-2012 data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) were utilized for this study. Prevalence odds ratios from logistic regression analyses were used to estimate risks of diabetic retinopathy across HbA1c categories, adjusting for age, sex, and hypertension. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine diagnostic cutoff point of HbA1c for prevalent diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: There were gradients of increasing prevalence and odds of diabetic retinopathy with increasing HbA1c in non-diabetic overweight/obese African-Americans 50years of age and older. HbA1c cut-off point of 5.2% (AUC=.726, 95% CI=0.696-0.756) was found to maximize sensitivity [93.5%; 95% CI: 83.2-95.7] for diabetic retinopathy, though specificity [22.1%; 95% CI 19.9-32.8] was low. CONCLUSION: Current criteria for diagnosis of prediabetes are effective in identifying many older overweight/obese African Americans with diabetic retinopathy. Based on our analysis, a lower HbA1c of 5.2% could serve as a more sensitive cutoff point for defining prediabetes in this population subgroup.

Impact of a Quality Improvement Intervention to Increase Brief Alcohol and Drug Interventions on a Level I Trauma Service.

Screening and brief intervention (SBI) decreases alcohol use and related consequences among trauma patients. Although SBI is required in Level I and II trauma centers, implementation often is difficult. This study used the Plan-Do-Study-Act approach to identify and implement measures to increase the number of patients receiving SBI at a Level I trauma center. A multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Committee with representation from the Trauma Service and SBI Team met monthly during 2011. Stepwise interventions included identifying a resident "champion" responsible for screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment, including an SBI report at monthly trauma conferences, and incorporating SBI into the trauma order set. Outcomes measures were number of patients screened, patients screening positive, and the number of patients receiving SBI. At baseline, 170 of 362 patients (47%) were screened, 68/170 (40%) had positive screens, and 30/68 (44% of those with positive screens) received SBI services. Quarter 2 saw increases in patients screened-275/437 (63%), patients screening positive (106/275; 39%) and those receiving SBI (60/106; 57%). Increases culminated in Quarter 4 with screening 401/466 (86%; P < 0.001) patients, 208/401 (52%; P < 0.001) patients screening positive, and 114 patients (55%; P = 0.296) receiving services. Use of similar quality improvement measures nationwide could improve rates of provision of this important service.

Improving Detection of Prediabetes in Children and Adults: Using Combinations of Blood Glucose Tests.

HIGHLIGHTS: The combined use of fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c test is associated with significantly higher diagnostic rates of prediabetes across age, race/ethnicity, and BMI than using only one test.Combined use of fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and oral glucose tolerance test do not improve the overall and gender-specific prediabetes prevalence beyond what is observed using a combination fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c test.A redefined hemoglobin A1c test that incorporates racial/ethnic, gender, age, and BMI differences may provide a better way to use hemoglobin A1c test in population-based and clinical settings. AIM: To determine combinations of blood glucose tests: oral glucose tolerance (OGT), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) that are associated with highest diagnostic rates of prediabetes in non-diabetic American children and adults. METHODS: The 2007-2008 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data were used for this study. Overall and specific prevalence of prediabetes (defined using OGT + FPG, OGT + HbA1C, HbA1C + FPG, and OGT + FPG + HbA1C tests) were determined across age, race/ethnicity, sex, and BMI categories. RESULTS: FPG + HbA1C test was associated with significantly higher diagnostic rates of prediabetes across age, race/ethnicity, and BMI. Estimates of overall prevalence of prediabetes using OGT + FPG, OGT + HbA1C, HbA1C + FPG, and OGT + FPG + HbA1C tests were 20.3, 24.2, 33, and 34.3%, respectively. Compared to OGT + FPG, the use of HbA1C + FPG test in screening was associated with 44.8, 135, 38.6, and 35.9% increased prevalence of prediabetes in non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Mexican-American, and other racial/ethnic men, respectively. The corresponding values in women were 67.8, 140, 37.2, and 42.6%, respectively. Combined use of all blood glucose tests did not improve the overall and gender-specific prediabetes prevalence beyond what was observed using HbA1C + FPG test. CONCLUSION: HbA1C criteria were associated with higher diagnosis rates of prediabetes than FPG and OGT tests in non-diabetic American children and adults. Using a combination of HbA1C and FPG test in screening for prediabetes reduces intrinsic systematic bias in using just HbA1C testing and offers the benefits of each test. A well-defined HbA1C that takes into consideration race/ethnicity, gender, age, and body mass index may improve detection of prediabetes in population and clinical settings.

A Multisite Initiative to Increase the Use of Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention Through Resident Training and Clinic Systems Changes.

PURPOSE: Screening and brief intervention (SBI) is a seldom-used evidence-based practice for reducing unhealthy alcohol use among primary care patients. This project assessed the effectiveness of a regional consortium's training efforts in increasing alcohol SBI. METHOD: Investigators combined alcohol SBI residency training efforts with clinic SBI implementation processes and used chart reviews to assess impact on SBI rates in four residency clinics. Data were derived from a random sample of patient charts collected before (2010; n = 662) and after (2011; n = 656) resident training/clinic implementation. Patient charts were examined for evidence that patients were asked about alcohol use by a validated screening instrument, the screening result (positive or negative), evidence that patients received a brief intervention, prescriptions for medications to assist abstinence, and referrals to alcohol treatment. Chi-square analyses identified differences in pre- and posttraining implementation of SBI practices. RESULTS: Following program implementation, screening with validated instruments increased from 151/662 (22.8%) at baseline to 543/656 (82.8%, P < .01), and identification of unhealthy alcohol use increased from 12/662 (1.8%) to 41/656 (6.3%, P < .01). Performance of brief interventions more than doubled (10/662 [1.5%] versus 24/656 [3.7%], P < .01). There were no increases in the use of medications or referrals to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Resident training combined with clinic implementation efforts can increase the delivery of evidence-based practices such as alcohol SBI in residency clinics.

Validation of the ASSIST for Detecting Unhealthy Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders in Urgent Care Patients.

BACKGROUND: Screening and brief intervention (SBI) is effective in reducing alcohol use, particularly among moderate risk patients. Results of SBI are inconsistent among patients with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is used as a screening tool in many existing SBI programs. ASSIST validation studies have identified risk level cutoff scores using criteria for AUD and have not included a criterion measure for at-risk drinking (ARD), the group for whom SBI is most effective. This study examines the ability of the ASSIST to identify unhealthy alcohol use (ARD or AUD) and AUD in patients presenting to urgent care. METHODS: Data were obtained from interviews with 442 adult drinkers presenting to 1 of 3 urgent care clinics. Subjects completed the ASSIST, a 90-day timeline follow-back interview to detect ARD, and a modified Diagnostic Interview Schedule to identify AUD. Validity measures compared the specificity and sensitivity of cutoff scores for the ASSIST in detecting unhealthy alcohol use and AUDs. RESULTS: The optimal ASSIST score for detecting unhealthy alcohol use is 6+ for males (sensitivity and specificity 68 and 66%, respectively) and 5+ for females (62%/70%). Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic values were lower than those previously reported for the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). For AUD, the optimal ASSIST cutoff scores are 10+ for males (63%/85%) and 9+ for females (63%/85%). While higher scores provided increased specificity, thereby reducing the percentage of false positives, sensitivity dropped sharply as scores increased. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal ASSIST cutoff scores for unhealthy alcohol use are lower than those commonly used in many SBI programs. Use of lower ASSIST cutoff scores may increase detection of unhealthy alcohol use and increase the numbers served by SBI programs.

Primary care residents lack comfort and experience with alcohol screening and brief intervention: a multi-site survey.

BACKGROUND: Approximately one in six adults in the United States (U.S.) binge drinks. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that primary care physicians screen patients for such hazardous alcohol use, and when warranted, deliver a brief intervention. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine primary care residents' current practices, perceived barriers and confidence with conducting alcohol screening and brief interventions (SBI). DESIGN: This was a multi-site, cross-sectional survey conducted from March 2010 through December 2012. PARTICIPANTS: We invited all residents in six primary care residency programs (three internal medicine programs and three family medicine programs) to participate. Of 244 residents, 210 completed the survey (response rate 86 %). MAIN MEASURES: Our survey assessed residents' alcohol screening practices (instruments used and frequency of screening), perceived barriers to discussing alcohol, brief intervention content, and self-rated ability to help hazardous drinkers. To determine the quality of brief interventions delivered, we examined how often residents reported including the three key recommended elements of feedback, advice, and goal-setting. KEY RESULTS: Most residents (60 %, 125/208) reported "usually" or "always" screening patients for alcohol misuse at the initial clinic visit, but few residents routinely screened patients at subsequent acute-care (17 %, 35/208) or chronic-care visits (33 %, 68/208). Only 19 % (39/210) of residents used screening instruments capable of detecting binge drinking. The most frequently reported barrier to SBI was lack of adequate training (54 %, 108/202), and only 21 % (43/208) of residents felt confident they could help at -risk drinkers. When residents did perform a brief intervention, only 24 % (49/208) "usually" or "always" included the three recommended elements. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of residents in this multi-site study appropriately screen or intervene with at-risk alcohol users. To equip residents to effectively address hazardous alcohol use, there is a critical need for educational and clinic interventions to support alcohol-related SBI.