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For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Saturday, February 20, 2010

Use of an Electronic Clinical Reminder for Brief Alcohol Counseling is Associated with Resolution of Unhealthy Alcohol Use at Follow-Up Screening


Brief alcohol counseling is a foremost US prevention priority, but no health-care system has implemented it into routine care.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an electronic clinical reminder for brief alcohol counseling (“reminder”).

The specific aims were to (1) determine the prevalence of use of the reminder and (2) evaluate whether use of the reminder was associated with resolution of unhealthy alcohol use at follow-up screening.

Among 4,198 participants who screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use, 71% had use of the alcohol counseling clinical reminder documented in their medical records. Adjusted proportions of patients who resolved unhealthy alcohol use were 31% (95% CI 30–33%) and 28% (95% CI 25–30%), respectively, for patients with and without reminder use (p-value = 0.031).

The brief alcohol counseling clinical reminder was used for a majority of patients with unhealthy alcohol use and associated with a moderate decrease in drinking at follow-up.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: emily.williams3@va.gov

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