Talk to the Veterans Crisis Line now
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government

VA Health Systems Research

Go to the VA ORD website
Go to the QUERI website

HSR Citation Abstract

Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title

Patient perspectives on alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy and integration of treatment into primary care settings.

Haley SJ, Pinsker EA, Gerould H, Wisdom JP, Hagedorn HJ. Patient perspectives on alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy and integration of treatment into primary care settings. Substance Abuse. 2019 Mar 4; 1-9.

Dimensions for VA is a web-based tool available to VA staff that enables detailed searches of published research and research projects.

If you have VA-Intranet access, click here for more information vaww.hsrd.research.va.gov/dimensions/

VA staff not currently on the VA network can access Dimensions by registering for an account using their VA email address.
   Search Dimensions for VA for this citation
* Don't have VA-internal network access or a VA email address? Try searching the free-to-the-public version of Dimensions



Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are underutilized. This mixed-methods study reports supplementary findings from the alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy and treatment in primary care (ADaPT-PC) implementation study at 3 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospital sites to understand why prescription rates did not increase following the ADaPT-PC intervention. METHODS: Qualitative interviews (N? = 30) were conducted in advance of the ADaPT-PC intervention to understand patients'' pharmacotherapy attitudes among those in AUD treatment, with previous treatment experience, or who needed assistance with their alcohol use. Following the ADaPT-PC intervention, chart reviews from a random sample of patients with AUD or a most recent Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test consumption questions (AUDIT-C) score > 8, and no active AUD prescription, were conducted to determine the frequency of alcohol-related conversations (N? = 455). RESULTS: Most interviewed patients welcomed a discussion about their alcohol use and pharmacotherapy. Of the 15 medication-naïve patients interviewed, 6 stated that they would be willing to try pharmacotherapy, 5 stated that they were unlikely, 2 identified reservations, 1 said no, and 1 was not asked. Fifteen patients were either currently taking medications (n? = 10) or had taken medication in the past (n? = 7; 2 patients had past and current experience). Chart reviews indicated that although 66% of charts (n? = 299) documented a discussion of their alcohol use with the provider, only 7.5% (n? = 22) of individuals with an AUD diagnosis had a documented discussion of AUD pharmacotherapy, and only 5 received pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: Most interviewed patients were open to discussing AUD treatment, including discussions of pharmacotherapy, with their provider. From documented conversations about alcohol use to treatment options, medical records suggests a continuous narrowing of the number of patients engaged in alcohol-related consultations. Although some interviewed patients expressed reticence about initiating pharmacotherapy, these findings suggest that the treatment cascade may have a greater influence on the number of pharmacotherapy prescriptions than patients'' preferences.





Questions about the HSR website? Email the Web Team

Any health information on this website is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition.