Introduction NICE Guidance has mandated the need to provide an Alcohol Liaison Service (ALS) within all Acute Trusts (1). Within our organisation, we have a mature ALS which provides advice and support to prospectively identified patients admitted to the Acute Medical Service. This audit was undertaken to seek the views of service users, and to ensure that we were fulfilling their needs and expectations, thus allowing feedback on future service development.

Aim To assess the patient acceptance of a Nurse-Led Alcohol Liaison Service

Methods All patients admitted to Medical Admissions Unit (MAU), had an alcohol assessment using the validated AUDIT (2) nursing questionnaire. Those scoring ≥ 5 were flagged to the Alcohol Liaison Service. Similarly, a high percentage of patients seen in A&E were screened by the nurses, given extended brief advice, then offered referral to Specialist Alcohol Worker (SAW)

All patients seen by SAW, and by Alcohol Clinical Nurse Specialist (ACNS) over a 6 week period were given a questionnaire and sealed envelopes, to be returned anonymously.

Results 95 questionnaires were distributed by the ACNS, and 79 were returned (return rate 83%). 10 questionnaires had technical printing errors, so were excluded from final analysis, so the ITT return rate was 73%. 32 questionnaires were distributed by the SAW, with a 100% return rate.

The first 3 questions dealt with quality of the service, and were numerically scored from 1–4, with 1 being poor, and 4 being excellent. When asked ‘How would you rate the quality of the service you have received?’ 97% answered 3 or 4 (good or excellent). When asked if the service had met their needs, 88% of clients stated that it had. The remainder of the questionnaire dealt with acceptance of the service, and whether the service would be recommended to peers. When asked whether clients would recommend a friend to the service, 90% responded positively.

The scores for the SAW were even better, with positive responses (outcome 3 or 4 on questionnaire) 100% of the time.

Conclusion This work illustrated the acceptance and value of the ALS to service users admitted acutely. Furthermore, free text responses received were overwhelmingly supportive and positive towards the service.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared.

References

1. Alcohol-use disorders: preventing the development of hazardous and harmful drinking, NICE Public Health Guidance 24, June 2010

2. The AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), World Health Organisation, Saunders JB, Aasland OG, Babor TF, et al. Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): WHO Collaborative Project on Early Detection of Persons with Harmful Alcohol Consumption--II. Addiction. 1993 Jun; 88(6):791–804