Screening for alcohol use disorders in a genitourinary medicine and contraception clinic: a service evaluation. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thorley, Nicola L; Kumar, Vinod; Nightingale, Peter; Radcliffe, Keith
• Is Part Of: International journal of STD & AIDS. Volume 25:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 812
• Page End: 816
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Alcohol -- screening -- contraception -- genitourinary medicine -- sexual health clinic -- hazardous drinking -- AUDIT; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.951
• DOI: 10.1177/0956462414521168
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-4624

Abstract

Summary: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance advises that all patients routinely undergo alcohol screening. Our service evaluation in a sexual health clinic assessed the acceptability of alcohol screening, the prevalence of hazardous drinking and the uptake of referral to a specialist alcohol service. Three services were evaluated: a genitourinary medicine service, a contraception service and an integrated sexual health service. AUDIT was used to screen 276 patients; those scoring ≥8 were classified as hazardous drinkers. Screening uptake was 58% overall, 58% for the contraception service, 71% for the genitourinary medicine service and 100% for the integrated sexual health service. Overall, 28% had AUDIT scores ≥8. Hazardous drinking rates were higher in the genitourinary medicine (32%) and integrated sexual health services (52%) compared to the contraception service (21%); 7% of hazardous drinkers accepted referral. High rates of hazardous drinking were identified within all three groups, but uptake of referral was low. Alternative strategies to specialist alcohol service referral are discussed.