Participant report of therapist-delivered active ingredients in a telephone-delivered brief motivational intervention predicts taking steps towards change.

OBJECTIVE: Given the widespread potential for disseminating Motivational Interviewing (MI) through technology, the question of whether MI active ingredients are present when not delivered in person is critical to assure high treatment quality. The Participant Rating Form (PRF) was developed and used to evaluate therapist-delivered active ingredients in phone-delivered MI with hazardous drinking Emergency Department patients. METHOD: A factor analysis of all PRFs completed after receiving one call (n=256) was conducted. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine whether PRF factors predicted a measure of motivation to change -- taking steps-at the second call (n=214). RESULTS: The majority of participants were male (65%), with a mean age of 32 years and with an average alcohol ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test) score of 20.5 (SD = 7.1). Results of the factor analysis for the PRF revealed Relational (working collaboration) and Technical (MI behaviors) factors. After controlling for demographics, alcohol severity, and baseline readiness, the technical factor predicted self-report of increased taking steps towards change while the relational factor did not explain any additional variance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds to the growing literature investigating patient perspectives of therapist skill as a source of information to better understand MI active ingredients. The PRF is a feasible instrument for measuring the patient's experience of phone-based MI. Results indicate that MI active ingredients of change (relational and technical components) were present in the telephone intervention as hypothesized. Clinical Trial Registration # 01326169.

Brief intervention to increase emergency department uptake of combined rapid human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C screening among a drug misusing population.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, Increasing Viral Testing in the Emergency Department (InVITED), the authors investigated if a brief intervention about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) risk-taking behaviors and drug use and misuse in addition to a self-administered risk assessment, compared to a self-administered risk assessment alone, increased uptake of combined screening for HIV and HCV, self-perception of HIV/HCV risk, and impacted beliefs and opinions on HIV/HCV screening. METHODS: InVITED was a randomized, controlled trial conducted at two urban emergency departments (EDs) from February 2011 to March 2012. ED patients who self-reported drug use within the past 3 months were invited to enroll. Drug misuse severity and need for a brief or more intensive intervention was assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Participants were randomly assigned to one of two study arms: a self-administered HIV/HCV risk assessment alone (control arm) or the assessment plus a brief intervention about their drug misuse and screening for HIV/HCV (intervention arm). Beliefs on the value of combined HIV/HCV screening, self-perception of HIV/HCV risk, and opinions on HIV/HCV screening in the ED were measured in both study arms before the HIV/HCV risk assessment (pre), after the assessment in the control arm, and after the brief intervention in the intervention arm (post). Participants in both study arms were offered free combined rapid HIV/HCV screening. Uptake of screening was compared by study arm. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors related to uptake of screening. RESULTS: Of the 395 participants in the study, the median age was 28 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 23 to 38 years), 44.8% were female, 82.3% had ever been tested for HIV, and 67.3% had ever been tested for HCV. Uptake of combined rapid HIV/HCV screening was nearly identical by study arm (64.5% vs. 65.2%; Δ = -0.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -10.1% to 8.7%). Of the 256 screened, none had reactive HIV antibody tests, but seven (2.7%) had reactive HCV antibody tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis results indicated that uptake of screening was not related to study arm assignment, total ASSIST drug scores, need for an intervention for drug misuse, or HIV/HCV sexual risk assessment scores. However, uptake of screening was greater among participants who indicated placing a higher value on combined rapid HIV/HCV screening for themselves and all ED patients and those with higher levels of perceived HIV/HCV risk. Uptake of combined rapid HIV/HCV screening was not related to changes in beliefs regarding the value of combined HIV/HCV screening or self-perceived HIV/HCV risk (post- vs. pre-risk assessment with or without a brief intervention). Opinions regarding the ED as a venue for combined rapid HIV/HCV screening were not related to uptake of screening. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of combined rapid HIV/HCV screening is high and considered valuable among drug using and misusing ED patients with little concern about the ED as a screening venue. The brief intervention investigated in this study does not appear to change beliefs regarding screening, self-perceived risk, or uptake of screening for HIV/HCV in this population. Initial beliefs regarding the value of screening and self-perceived risk for these infections predict uptake of screening.

Energy drink and other substance use among adolescent and young adult emergency department patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand current patterns of energy drink use and compare the extent of usage of energy drinks and other commonly used and misused substances between adolescent (13-17-years-old) and young adult (18-25-years-old) emergency department (ED) patients. METHODS: During a 6-week period between June and August 2010, all patients presenting to an adult or pediatric ED were asked to complete a computer-based, anonymous questionnaire regarding use of energy drinks and other substances. Wilcoxon rank-sum, 2-sample tests of binomial proportions, Pearson χ(2) testing, and regression models were used to compare energy drink and substance use by age groups. RESULTS: Past 30-day energy drink use was greater for young adults (57.9%) than adolescents (34.9%) (P < 0.03). Adolescents typically consumed a mean of 1.5 and young adults a mean of 2.6 energy drinks per day when using energy drinks and drank at most a mean of 2.4 and 2.6 drinks per day, respectively. Among adolescents, energy drink usage was more common than alcohol, "street" or illicit drugs, and tobacco usage, but less common than caffeine product usage. For young adults, energy drink usage was more common than "street" or illicit drugs, but less common than caffeine use, and similar to tobacco and alcohol usage. Young adult energy drink users were more likely than young adult non-energy drink users also to use tobacco and caffeine. CONCLUSIONS: Energy drink use is common among ED patients. Given the high prevalence of energy drink use observed, emergency physicians should consider the involvement of energy drinks in the presentations of young people.

Feasibility and acceptability of a pediatric emergency department alcohol prevention intervention for young adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine feasibility and acceptability of a brief pediatric emergency department (PED) prevention intervention to delay/prevent initiation of alcohol use in 12-to 14-year-olds. METHODS: Medically stable 12- to 14-year-olds presenting to the PED who were accompanied by a parent and who had not initiated alcohol use were eligible. Adolescent-parent dyads completed a computerized assessment and were randomized to either brief targeted prevention intervention (BPI) or enhanced standard care (ESC). Families randomized to BPI participated in a PED-based motivational interviewing and skill building-based session with a trained counselor. Parents randomized to BPI had telephone boosters at 1 and 3 months. Families randomized to ESC received standard care and adolescent substance use pamphlets. All dyads completed 6-month follow-up assessments to assess alcohol use-related outcomes. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-eight families were approached: 122 were eligible and 104 were enrolled (85%). Mean youth age was 13 (SD, 0.83) years, 51% were female, and 90% of parents were females. Of the 104 enrolled, 5 withdrew; 99 (94%) completed the assessment battery in the PED in less than 30 minutes. All BPI dyads completed the counseling session in the PED. However, only 53% of BPI parents completed the booster telephone sessions. Brief targeted prevention intervention acceptability items were rated favorably (82%-100%) by both parents and adolescents. There were no differences between BPI and ESC on substance-related outcomes, although the study was not adequately powered for this purpose because it was designed as a feasibility study. CONCLUSIONS: A BPI in the PED is both feasible and acceptable, but phone boosters proved less feasible. Larger samples and further study are needed to identify efficacy of the BPI in delaying onset of alcohol use in teens.

Treatment may influence self-report and jeopardize our understanding of outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Standardized measures of self-reported alcohol use are the predominant method by which change in alcohol use following interventions is evaluated. This study examined whether the invariance of the test-retest pretreatment Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was affected by the treatment experience. In this study, the intervening exposure was to motivational interviewing (MI) versus community service (CS), the treatment-as-usual control group. METHOD: Analyses were conducted on a subsample of court-referred 16- to 21-year-olds recruited into a randomized controlled trial examining the effects of MI on alcohol use and police charges for risky driving and/or drinking. Youths were randomized to CS or MI. A subsample of 478 participants, who at baseline completed the AUDIT in reference to alcohol use for the 6 months before their conviction, later repeated the AUDIT at treatment completion, in reference to the same 6-month baseline period. RESULTS: At completion of treatment, participants receiving CS had a significant decrease in baseline AUDIT scores, whereas those in MI reported no significant change. The difference between the two groups was significant (p = .02). Also, of those who reported no drinking before treatment, after receiving MI, 33.5% changed their response and acknowledged pretreatment drinking, compared with only 8.3% in CS. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that treatment received may differentially affect a standardized measure of self-reported risky drinking. This effect may be attributable to the treatment experience and/or the experience of the control group. Possible explanations for the effect are explored, including more honesty because of a trusting therapeutic alliance and a response shift bias. Differential change in self-report might affect treatment outcome assessment. Depending on the treatment contrasts, research that relies on pre- to post-treatment changes in self-report may be underestimating treatment effects.

The effect of group-adapted motivational interviewing on traffic convictions and driving behaviors of court-adjudicated youth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a 20 hr prevention program (The Reducing Dangerous Driving Program, RYDD) in reducing traffic citation recidivism and high-risk driving behaviors among 16- to 20-year-olds referred by the Rhode Island courts for traffic citation events. METHODS: Participants were randomized to receive either the Adapted Group Motivational Interviewing (AGMI) or the Community Service (CS) arm of the study. Participants completed a survey at baseline and at 6 and 12 months post-RYDD completion. Objective court data on post-RYDD traffic event citations were also collected. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups on measures of high-risk driving behaviors and post-RYDD traffic event citation recidivism at the 12-month follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: There remains a need to develop and test behavioral interventions that could address high-risk driving behaviors and associated motor vehicle crash (MVC) risk in this population. Further research is needed to determine whether group behavioral interventions that use motivational interviewing could be a possible mechanism for changing high-risk behaviors, traffic citation recidivism, and the associated risks that these pose for MVCs among young drivers.

Behavioral and physiologic adverse effects in adolescent and young adult emergency department patients reporting use of energy drinks and caffeine.

INTRODUCTION: This pilot study assessed the prevalence of physiologic and behavioral adverse effects among adolescent (13-17 years) and adult (18-25 years) emergency department patients who reported energy drink and/or caffeinated-only beverage use within the 30 days prior to emergency department presentation. It was hypothesized that energy drink users would report more adverse effects than those who used only traditional caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, or soft drinks. METHODS: This cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in two urban emergency departments, one adult and one pediatric. Eligible patients were enrolled during a 6-week period between June and August 2010. Participants completed a tablet computer-based, self-administered, anonymous questionnaire about their past 30-day energy drink and/or caffeinated-only beverage use, substance use, and experience of 10 physiologic and 10 behavioral symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression and negative binomial regression models, adjusted for age, gender, and substance use, were created to compare the occurrence of each adverse effect between energy drink and caffeinated-only beverage users. Odds ratios (ORs) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated. RESULTS: Of those enrolled, 53.3% reported consuming energy drinks, 39.1% caffeinated-only beverages, and 7.6% no energy drinks or caffeinated-only beverages within the past 30 days. In multivariable logistic regression models, energy drink users were more likely than caffeinated-only beverage users to report having "gotten into trouble at home, school, or work" in the past 30 days (OR: 3.12 [1.24-7.88]). In the negative binomial regression multivariable models, more behavioral effects were reported among drug users (IRR: 1.50 [1.18-1.93]), and more physiologic effects were reported among tobacco users (IRR: 1.42 [1.13-1.80]) and females (IRR: 1.48 [1.21-1.80]), but not among energy drink users. CONCLUSIONS: Energy drink users and substance users are more likely to report specific physiologic and behavioral adverse effects. Emergency department clinicians should consider asking patients about energy drink and traditional caffeine usage and substance use when assessing patient symptoms.

Interrelationship of alcohol misuse, HIV sexual risk and HIV screening uptake among emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) patients comprise a high-risk population for alcohol misuse and sexual risk for HIV. In order to design future interventions to increase HIV screening uptake, we examined the interrelationship among alcohol misuse, sexual risk for HIV and HIV screening uptake among these patients. METHODS: A random sample of 18-64-year-old English- or Spanish-speaking patients at two EDs during July-August 2009 completed a self-administered questionnaire about their alcohol use using the Alcohol Use Questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the HIV Sexual Risk Questionnaire. Study participants were offered a rapid HIV test after completing the questionnaires. Binging (≥ five drinks/occasion for men, ≥ four drinks for women) was assessed and sex-specific alcohol misuse severity levels (low-risk, harmful, hazardous, dependence) were calculated using AUDIT scores. Analyses were limited to participants who had sexual intercourse in the past 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations between HIV screening uptake and (1) alcohol misuse, (2) sexual risk for HIV, and (3) the intersection of HIV sexual risk and alcohol misuse. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. All models were adjusted for patient demographic characteristics and separate models for men and women were constructed. RESULTS: Of 524 participants (55.0% female), 58.4% identified as white, non-Hispanic, and 72% reported previous HIV testing. Approximately 75% of participants reported drinking alcohol within the past 30 days and 74.5% of men and 59.6% of women reported binge drinking. A relationship was found between reported sexual risk for HIV and alcohol use among men (AOR 3.31 [CI 1.51-7.24]) and women (AOR 2.78 [CI 1.48-5.23]). Women who reported binge drinking were more likely to have higher reported sexual risk for HIV (AOR 2.55 [CI 1.40-4.64]) compared to women who do not report binge drinking. HIV screening uptake was not higher among those with greater alcohol misuse and sexual risk among men or women. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent disconnection between HIV screening uptake and alcohol misuse and sexual risk for HIV among ED patients in this study is concerning. Brief interventions emphasizing these associations should be evaluated to reduce alcohol misuse and sexual risk and increase the uptake of ED HIV screening.

Translation of alcohol screening and brief intervention guidelines to pediatric trauma centers.

BACKGROUND: As part of the American College of Surgeons verification to be a Level 1 trauma center, centers are required to have the capacity to identify trauma patients with risky alcohol use and provide an intervention. Despite supporting scientific evidence and national policy statements encouraging alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), barriers still exist, which prevent the integration of SBIRT into clinical care. Study objectives of this multisite translational research study were to identify best practices for integrating SBIRT services into routine care for pediatric trauma patients, to measure changes in practice with adoption and implementation of a SBIRT policy, and to define barriers and opportunities for adoption and implementation of SBIRT services at pediatric trauma centers. METHODS: This translational research study was conducted at seven US pediatric trauma centers during a 3-year period. Changes in SBIRT practice were measured through self-report and medical record review at three different study phases, namely, adoption, implementation, and maintenance phases. RESULTS: According to medical record review, at baseline, 11% of eligible patients were screened and received a brief intervention (if necessary) across all sites. After completion of the SBIRT technical assistance activities, all seven participating trauma centers had effectively developed, adopted, and implemented SBIRT policies for injured adolescent inpatients. Furthermore, across all sites, 73% of eligible patients received SBIRT services after both the implementation and maintenance phases. Opportunities and barriers for successful integration were identified. CONCLUSION: This model may serve as method for translating SBIRT services into practice within pediatric trauma centers.

Motivational counseling reduces future police charges in court referred youth.

By the age of 18, between 16 and 27% of adolescents in the U.S. have been arrested for an offense and by the age of 23 this increases to a staggering 25-41%. Most youth that get into legal trouble have a substance abuse problem and many youth report high risk driving behaviors. Adjudication of adolescents for an offense may provide an opportunity to provide a secondary prevention program for such high risk behaviors. In this regard the primary aim of the present study was to test two hypotheses: (1) that interventions involving group motivational interviewing would decrease future legal charges beyond those achieved by the combination of sanctions and remedial actions otherwise mandated by the court; and (2) that the addition of a trauma room exposure to the group MI intervention would increase the effectiveness of MI in decreasing these future legal charges. Court mandated youth who have had a high risk driving police charge and/or alcohol related police charge and who are drivers (n=992) were randomly assigned to one of the three 20h interventions; enhanced prototypic community service (CS), Motivational Intervention with typical community service (MI), and Motivational Intervention with exposure to a hospital trauma center (MI-H). As hypothesized, the probability of being charged with an offense within the 6 months post-treatment was significantly less for participants in the combined MI groups than those in the CS group. The combined MI groups also had significantly fewer overall number of police charge events than the CS group at 6 months. Mediation analyses revealed that the relationship between MI vs. CS interventions and subsequent police charges was partially accounted for by the youth's experience of the MI component of the intervention. Despite fewer police charges at 6 months the combined MI group reported (1) significantly more hazardous drinking and (2) a greater amount of speeding and distracted driving than the control group over this same 6-month period. Hypothesis 2, that MI-H would be more effective than MI in reducing police charges, was not supported. This was so despite evidence supporting the hypotheses that (1) trauma room exposure would increase participants' emotional arousal during the intervention and (2) increased arousal would be predictive of fewer police charges. Despite support for the theorized causal pathway, the combination of trauma room exposure and MI did not result in better outcomes than MI combined with traditional community service. Given this discrepancy between empirical supports for the theory in the face of the absence of incremental effectiveness of the MI-H treatment condition, a better understanding of the participant's hospital experience will be necessary if we are to successfully utilize the trauma room exposure to increase the effectiveness of MI interventions for this target group to achieve better outcomes.

Project reduce: reducing alcohol and marijuana misuse: effects of a brief intervention in the emergency department.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Brief interventions (BI) for alcohol misuse and recently for marijuana use for emergency department patients have demonstrated effectiveness. We report a 12-month outcome data of a randomized controlled trial of emergency department (ED) patients using a novel model of BI that addresses both alcohol and marijuana use. METHODS: ED research assistants recruited adult patients who admitted alcohol use in the last month, and marijuana use in the last year. In the ED, patients received an assessment of alcohol and marijuana use and were randomized to treatment (n=249) or standard care (n=266). Treatment consisted of two sessions of BI. At 3 and 12months, both groups had an assessment of alcohol and marijuana use and negative consequences of use. RESULTS: 515 patients were randomized. We completed a 12-month follow-up assessments on 83% of those randomized. Measures of binge drinking and conjoint marijuana and alcohol use significantly decreased for the treatment group compared to the standard care group. At 12-month binge alcohol use days per month in the treatment group were (M=0.72:95% CI=0.36-1.12) compared to standard care group (M=1.77:95% CI=1.19-1.57) Conjoint use days in the treatment group (M=1.25.1:95% CI=0.81-1.54) compared to standard care group (M=2.16:95% CI=1.56-2.86). No differences in negative consequences or injuries were seen between the treatment and standard care groups. CONCLUSIONS: BI for alcohol and marijuana decreased binge drinking and conjoint use in our treatment group. BI appears to offer a mechanism to reduce risky alcohol and marijuana use among ED patients but expected reductions in consequences of use such as injury were not found 12months after the ED visit.

DIAL: a randomised trial of a telephone brief intervention for alcohol.

BACKGROUND: Decreasing Injuries from ALcohol (DIAL) is a randomised control trial of a telephone brief intervention (BI) with injured emergency department (ED) patients with high-risk alcohol use. Here the authors examine 12-month outcomes of the intervention's effect on alcohol use, alcohol-related injuries and alcohol-related negative consequences. METHODS: ED research assistants recruited adult injured patients who screened positive for high-risk alcohol use and were to be discharged home. After discharge, all participants received by telephone an assessment of their alcohol use, alcohol-related injuries, and alcohol-related negative consequences and then were randomised to treatment or standard care. Treatment consisted of two telephone sessions of BI focusing on risky alcohol use. Both groups were reassessed after 12 months. RESULTS: At 12 months, 249 (89%) participants completed follow-up assessments. After using a log transformation, the difference in alcohol-related injuries between baseline and 12-month follow-up was greater in the BI group than the standard care group (p=0.04); this is an effect size of Cohen's d=0.21. No difference between groups was found when comparing change in alcohol consumption and other alcohol-related negative consequences at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a telephone BI with injured ED patients may decrease alcohol-related injuries. Identifying patients with risky alcohol use in the ED and then subsequently delivering the intervention by telephone after discharge has promise as a model for BI and deserves further study.

Sex differences in alcohol misuse and estimated blood alcohol concentrations among emergency department patients: implications for brief interventions.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to assess the relationship between alcohol use and misuse and patient sex among emergency department (ED) patients by comparing self-reported estimates of quantity and frequency of alcohol use, estimated blood alcohol concentrations (eBACs) when typically drinking and during heavy episodic drinking (binging), and alcohol misuse severity, to understand sex differences in alcohol use and misuse for this population. METHODS: The authors surveyed a random sample of nonintoxicated, subcritically ill or injured, 18- to 64-year-old English- or Spanish-speaking patients on randomly selected dates and times at two EDs during July 2009 and August 2009. Participants self-administered a questionnaire about their self-reported alcohol use during a typical month within the past 12 months and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Using the formulae by Matthews and Miller, sex-specific eBACs were calculated for participants according to their reported weight and the number of reported alcoholic drinks consumed on days when typically drinking and on days of heavy episodic (binge) drinking (five or more drinks/occasion for men, four or more drinks for women). Sex-specific alcohol misuse severity levels (low-risk, harmful, hazardous, and dependence) were calculated using AUDIT scores. Wilcoxon rank-sum and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare outcomes by sex. Negative binomial regression was used to assess the relationship between sex and the number of drinks consumed on a typical day, the number of days spent drinking and binging, and estimated AUDIT scores. Logistic regression was used to assess the outcome of the presence of binging according to sex. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compare by sex the percentage of days spent drinking and binging in 1 month, eBACs when typically drinking and when binging, and AUDIT at-risk drinking levels. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. All models were adjusted for patient demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 513 participants, 52.1% were women, 55.8% were white non-Hispanic, and their median age was 34 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 25 to 46 years). Men reported greater mean alcohol consumption than women when typically drinking (4.3 vs. 3.3 drinks/day; p < 0.001) and during heavy episodic drinking (8.6 vs. 5.3 drinks/occasion; p < 0.001). Men spent more days drinking (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.19 to 1.65) and engaging in heavy episodic drinking (IRR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.31 to 2.17) than women. Additionally, men were more likely to engage in heavy episodic drinking (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.16 to 2.56) than women. However, the mean eBACs for men and women were similar when typically drinking (0.05 vs. 0.06; p < 0.13) and during heavy episodic drinking (0.13 vs. 0.12; p < 0.13). Mean AUDIT scores were greater for men than women (7.5 vs. 5.3; p < 0.001), although alcohol misuse severity levels were similar between men and women (24.4% vs. 26.6% for hazardous, 2.8% vs. 2.2% for harmful, and 6.5% vs. 3.4% for dependence; p < 0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Although men drink more than women, women have similar eBACs with comparable levels of alcohol misuse. Women may benefit from recognizing that they are reaching similar levels of intoxication compared to men. Addressing these differences and possible health implications in future ED brief interventions may induce changes in problematic alcohol use among women.

Identifying subtypes of dual alcohol and marijuana users: a methodological approach using cluster analysis.

Alcohol is the most common psychoactive substance used with marijuana. However, little is known about the potential impact of different levels of use of both alcohol and marijuana and their influence on risky behaviors, injuries and psychosocial functioning. A systematic approach to identifying patterns of alcohol and marijuana use associated with increased risks has not yet been identified in the literature. We report on the secondary analysis of data collected from a RCT conducted in a busy urban emergency department. Cluster analysis was performed on the patterns of past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use in two random subsamples N1=210 and N2=217. Four distinct subtypes of those who use both alcohol and marijuana were identified: (1) Daily Marijuana and Weekly Alcohol users; (2) Weekly Alcohol and Weekly Marijuana users; (3) Daily Alcohol and Daily Marijuana users; and (4) Daily Alcohol, Weekly Marijuana users. The four subtypes were replicated in both subsamples and examination of the external validity using ANOVA to determine cluster differences on psychosocial and behavioral variables confirmed the theoretical relevance of different patterns of alcohol and marijuana use. There were significantly different psychosocial negative consequences and related risky behaviors among subtypes. We found that Daily Alcohol and Daily Marijuana users are at the highest risk to experience more negative consequences and engage in a broader spectrum of risky behaviors related to both substances, than the other three types of alcohol and marijuana users.

Change plan as an active ingredient of brief motivational interventions for reducing negative consequences of drinking in hazardous drinking emergency-department patients.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the effects of brief motivational intervention components, such as change-plan completion, on treatment outcomes. This secondary analysis of an opportunistically recruited emergency-department sample of hazardous injured drinkers examines the potential predictive role of an alcohol-related change plan on treatment outcomes after accounting for pretreatment readiness. Written change plans were independently rated. METHOD: A mediational analysis framework tested directional hypotheses between pretreatment readiness, change plan, and treatment outcomes using linear regressions. The baseline total Drinker Inventory of Consequences (DrInC) score was covaried on 12-month DrInC total score, in all analyses. Participants who completed a brief motivational intervention and a change plan were included (N = 333). RESULTS: Pretreatment readiness was negatively associated with alcohol consequences at 12 months, (beta = -.09, t(254) = -2.07, p < .05, and good-quality change plans, (beta = .18, t(320) = 4.37, p < .001. With change plan and readiness in the same model, the relationship between readiness and treatment outcomes became nonsignificant, but change plan remained a significant predictor of treatment outcomes in the expected direction, beta = -.17, t(254) = -2.89, p < .01. Follow-up generalized linear modeling including an interaction term (change plan and pretreatment readiness) revealed that those with high readiness and a good-quality change plan versus those with low readiness and a poor-quality change plan had better-than-predicted outcomes for either readiness or change plan alone. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest that the change plan in brief motivational intervention may be an active ingredient of treatment associated with better outcomes over and above the influence of pretreatment readiness.

A cross-sectional study of the self-report of stress among emergency department patients.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information about the prevalence of stress and types of stressors experienced by Emergency Department (ED) patients. OBJECTIVE: The present aim is to study the prevalence of stress, types of stressful situations and the relationship with other health issues within the ED population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed in an ED at a level-1 urban trauma center for four months. An anonymous survey was offered to adult non critically ill patients who were admitted in the ED. They were divided on the basis of gender, age and level of stress and were asked about their demographics, reasons for their ED visit and health issues including stress, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use, weight concern and health. Chi-square for the categorical variables and unpaired t-tests for continuous variables were conducted. RESULTS: We interviewed 1797 patients, over 66% reported that they felt stressed on at least a weekly basis, and over 45% indicated that they felt stressed more than twice per week. While both young and old were equally stressed, females reported significantly more stress. Family, finances and work are the most frequently cited stressors. Different age groups reported different types of stressors. Overall, those patients reporting being stressed more frequently reported more high risk behaviors including cigarette and marijuana use and health problems including being overweight, being depressed, and having sleeping problems and chronic fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the high frequency of ED patients that report frequent stress and high risk behaviors, their ED visit may be an excellent opportunity to provide a referral or an intervention for stress reduction.

Readiness to change as a mediator of the effect of a brief motivational intervention on posttreatment alcohol-related consequences of injured emergency department hazardous drinkers.

Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) are usually effective for reducing alcohol use and consequences in primary care settings. We examined readiness to change drinking as a mediator of the effects of BMI on alcohol-related consequences. Participants were randomized into three conditions: (a) standard care plus assessment (SC), (b) SC plus BMI (BI), and (c) BI plus a booster session (BIB). At 12-month follow-up BIB patients had significantly reduced alcohol consequences more than had SC patients. Patients receiving BI or BIB maintained higher readiness scores 3 months after treatment than did patients receiving SC. However, readiness mediated treatment effects only for those highly motivated to change prior to the intervention but not for those with low pre-intervention motivation. BI and BIB for these patients decreased alcohol consequences in part because they enhanced and maintained readiness for those highly motivated prior to the intervention, but not for those with low motivation. Results are opposite of what would be expected from MI theory. An alternative explanation is offered as to why this finding occurred with this opportunistically recruited Emergency Department patient population.

Project integrate: translating screening and brief interventions for alcohol problems to a community hospital emergency department.

Screening and brief intervention (SBI) for alcohol problems in the emergency department (ED) is effective. The objective of this study was to examine the translation of SBI into a busy community ED environment. The authors assessed key stakeholders views of SBI delivery model, then utilized feedback to adapt model. Adoption of SBI was recorded, with data collected on use of screening tool, and referral for a BI. Model was modified due to physicians' and nursing resistance; physicians only screened and a research assistant (RA) delivered the BI. When the RA was present, screening by ED staff increased from 50% to 71% but returned to 50% after the RA left. An identified opportunity was increased nursing interest after observation of SBI, with 15 nurses trained in SBI after ED intervention concluded. Important barriers to translating SBI to community ED clinical practice exist. However, with additional staff present, high levels of SBI can occur.