Ethnic differences in drinking outcomes following a brief alcohol intervention in the trauma care setting

Gender differences in the relationship between discrimination and substance use disorder among Latinos

Using data from the National Latino and Asian American Study collected in 2002-2003 (N = 2,554), we assessed the adjusted odds of lifetime substance use disorder (SUD) associated with report of both unfair treatment and racial/ethnic discrimination. Among men, SUD was increased for those reporting low, moderate, and high levels of unfair treatment compared to those reporting no unfair treatment and patterns were similar for racial/ethnic discrimination. Among women, only those reporting high levels of unfair treatment were at increased risk of lifetime SUD and no associations were observed between racial/ethnic discrimination and lifetime SUD. Future research should examine the role that discrimination plays in the development of substance misuse among Latinos.

Treatment utilization and unmet treatment need among Hispanics following brief intervention

BACKGROUND

In a large randomized trial examining ethnic differences in response to a brief alcohol intervention following an alcohol-related injury, we showed that Hispanics, but not non-Hispanics, were more likely to reduce alcohol intake in comparison with treatment as usual (Addiction 105:62, 2010). The current study evaluates whether the observed improvements in drinking outcomes previously reported among Hispanics following brief intervention might be related to prior or subsequent treatment utilization.

METHODS

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized clinical trial that evaluated ethnic differences in the effect of a brief motivational intervention (BMI) on alcohol use among medical inpatients admitted for alcohol-related injury. For this study, statistical analyses were carried out to compare alcohol use, alcohol problems, treatment utilization, and unmet treatment need between Hispanic (n = 537) and non-Hispanic White (n = 668) inpatients. In addition, we examined the relationship between prior treatment utilization and unmet treatment need and alcohol use outcomes following brief intervention and the impact of brief intervention on subsequent treatment utilization and unmet treatment need.

RESULTS

In comparison with non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics at baseline reported heavier drinking, more alcohol problems, greater unmet treatment need, and lower rates of treatment utilization. Among Hispanics, multilevel analyses showed that prior treatment utilization or unmet treatment need did not moderate the effect of BMI on alcohol outcomes. Furthermore, BMI did not significantly impact subsequent treatment utilization or unmet treatment need among Hispanics. Finally, treatment utilization and unmet treatment need at 6 months were not significant mediators between BMI and alcohol use outcomes at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits of brief intervention among Hispanics do not appear to be better explained by subsequent engagement in mutual help groups or formal substance abuse treatment. Prior history of treatment, regardless of the severity of alcohol problems, does not appear to influence the impact of brief intervention on alcohol use among Hispanics. These findings support prior results reporting the benefits of brief intervention among Hispanics and demonstrate that these improvements are not related to prior or subsequent treatment utilization.

Chronic liver disease in the Hispanic population of the United States

Chronic liver disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among Hispanic people living in the United States. Environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors, as well as socioeconomic and health care disparities among this ethnic group have emerged as important public health concerns. We review the epidemiology, natural history, and response to therapy of chronic liver disease in Hispanic patients. The review covers nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis B and C, coinfection of viral hepatitis with human immunodeficiency virus, alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis. For most of these disorders, the Hispanic population has a higher incidence and more aggressive pattern of disease and overall worse treatment outcomes than in the non-Hispanic white population. Clinicians should be aware of these differences in caring for Hispanic patients with chronic liver disease.

Trauma healthcare providers' knowledge of alcohol abuse

BACKGROUND

Brief alcohol interventions for patients in trauma settings have demonstrated significant reductions in drinking behaviors, injury related risk behaviors, and subsequent arrests for driving while intoxicated. However, although a number of surveys have examined the knowledge and attitudes of trauma center personnel regarding alcohol problems, the knowledge and attitudes toward alcohol misuse, screening, and intervention services among various trauma care personnel within an individual trauma center have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine provider knowledge and attitudes related to screening and brief intervention for alcohol problems in a single Level-I trauma center.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was administered to employees of a Level-I trauma center with a screening and brief intervention program. Surveys were solicited from hospital staff responsible for the care of trauma patients. Topics covered in the survey included alcoholism, brief interventions in trauma centers, and motivational interviewing.

RESULTS

Most trauma care staff members surveyed were white and held BS/BA degrees or Associates' degrees in nursing. The average years of professional practice were 8.6 years. Staff's attitudes regarding those who misuse alcohol was somewhat neutral, showing a weak understanding of the etiology of alcoholism and the effectiveness of brief intervention and referral for treatment. Staff members also struggled to correctly identify the components of brief interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

This limited knowledge and the neutral attitudes regarding alcohol problems may indirectly influence metrics of program success. Trauma care staff will benefit from additional training regarding alcohol problems and brief interventions.

The mixed evidence for brief intervention in emergency departments, trauma care centers, and inpatient hospital settings: what should we do?

BACKGROUND

This qualitative review is based on a symposia presented at the 2009 annual conference of the Research Society on Alcoholism (Baird et al., 2009; Field et al., 2009; Monti et al., 2009; Saitz et al., 2009a). The purpose is to describe the mixed evidence supporting brief interventions in the emergency department, trauma care, and in-patient medical care settings; examine potential moderators of treatment outcome in light of the mixed evidence; and identify methods to move the research and practice of brief interventions beyond their current state.

METHODS

By drawing upon existing reviews and selected individual studies, we provide examples that reflect the current complexity of research in this area and propose steps for advancing the field.

RESULTS

Emergency departments, inpatient hospital settings, and trauma care settings represent three unique contexts within which brief interventions have been tested. While the general efficacy of brief alcohol interventions in these settings has been recognized, the evidence is increasingly mixed. Recent studies investigating potential moderators of treatment outcomes suggest that a more sophisticated approach to evaluating the effectiveness of brief interventions across varying patient populations is needed to further understand its effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Current dissemination efforts represent a significant advance in broadening the base of treatment for alcohol problems by providing an evidence-based intervention in health care settings and should not be curtailed. However, additional research is required to enhance treatment outcomes, refine current practice guidelines, and continue to bridge the gap between science and practice. Given the current state of research, a multisetting clinical trial is recommended to account for potential contextual differences while controlling for study design.

The role of ethnic matching between patient and provider on the effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions with Hispanics

BACKGROUND

Evaluating the effectiveness of treatments such as brief alcohol interventions among Hispanics is essential to effectively addressing their treatment needs. Clinicians of the same ethnicity as the client may be more likely to understand the culture-specific values, norms, and attitudes and, therefore, the intervention may be more effective. Thus, in cases in which Hispanic patients were provided intervention by a Hispanic clinician improved drinking outcomes were expected.

METHODS

Patients were recruited from an urban Level I Trauma following screening for an alcohol-related injury or alcohol problems. Five hundred thirty-seven Hispanics were randomly assigned to brief intervention or treatment as usual. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to determine the effects of ethnic match on drinking outcomes including volume per week, maximum amount, and frequency of 5 or more drinks per occasion. Analyses controlled for level of acculturation and immigration status.

RESULTS

For Hispanics who received brief motivational intervention, an ethnic match between patient and provider resulted in a significant reduction in drinking outcomes at 12-month follow-up. In addition, there was a tendency for ethnic match to be most beneficial to foreign-born Hispanics and less acculturated Hispanics.

CONCLUSION

As hypothesized, an ethnic match between patient and provider significantly enhanced the effectiveness of brief intervention among Hispanics. Ethnic concordance between patient and provider may have impacted the effectiveness of the intervention through several mechanisms including cultural scripts, ethnic-specific perceptions pertaining to substance abuse, and ethnic-specific preferred channels of communication.