Biroscak BJ, Pantalon MV, Dziura JD, Hersey DP, Vaca FE. (2019). Use of non-face-to-face modalities for emergency department screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (ED-SBIRT) for high-risk alcohol use: A scoping review. Substance Abuse. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2018.1550465
Researchers conducted a scoping review examining non-face-to-face (nFTF; digital, phone-based, mail-based) modalities used in emergency departments for screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) of high-risk alcohol use. The review resulted in 30 articles that were examined for information about the intervention, nFTF modality, target populations, target settings, and research methods for each study. Most studies focused on selective prevention (73%), evaluated efficacy of SBIRT (70%), and used a randomized controlled trial study design (77%). More than a third of articles had a target population of adolescents or young adults (40%). All articles described screening and brief intervention approaches and 60% described referral to treatment. When referrals were made, there were always passive referrals (e.g., resource lists). nFTF screening included computerized (63%) and phone-based (7%) screening. nFTF brief intervention strategies included computerized brief interventions (33%), phone booster sessions (30%), computerized feedback (10%), text-messaging interventions (10%), phone interventions (10%), bibliotherapy (7%), mailed feedback (7%), and brochures (3%). nFTF referral to treatment strategies included computerized (17%) and mailed (7%) resource lists. Studies longitudinally evaluated outcomes including alcohol consumption (e.g., quantity and frequency), risky behavior (e.g., binge drinking, intoxicated driving), alcohol-related consequences, help-seeking, and proximal outcomes (e.g., readiness to change). Researchers suggest that future research evaluate nFTF SBIRT modalities for high-risk alcohol use among older populations, use innovative methodologies, and target more complex systems of patient issues (e.g., targeting HIV and substance use). The authors also highlight the need for standardized reporting of SBIRT components.