Local Implementation of Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention at Five Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Clinics: Perspectives of Clinical and Administrative Staff.

Background And Objective: Population-based alcohol screening, followed by brief intervention for patients who screen positive for unhealthy alcohol use, is widely recommended for primary care settings and considered a top prevention priority, but is challenging to implement. However, new policy initiatives in the U.S.

Association between alcohol use and cardiovascular self-care behaviors among male hypertensive Veterans Affairs outpatients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Alcohol use is associated with health behaviors that impact cardiovascular outcomes in patients with hypertension, including avoiding salt, exercising, weight management, and not smoking. This study examined associations between varying levels of alcohol use and self-reported cardiovascular health behaviors among hypertensive Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatients.

Methods: Male outpatients with self-reported hypertension from 7 VA sites who returned mailed questionnaires (N = 11,927) were divided into 5 levels of alcohol use: nondrinking, low-level use, and mild, moderate, and severe alcohol misuse based on AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption) scores (0, 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-12, respectively).

An early evaluation of implementation of brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol use in the US Veterans Health Administration.

Aims: The US Veterans Health Administration [Veterans Affairs (VA)] used performance measures and electronic clinical reminders to implement brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol use. We evaluated whether documented brief intervention was associated with subsequent changes in drinking during early implementation.

Design: Observational, retrospective cohort study using secondary clinical and administrative data.

Alcohol and associated characteristics among older persons living with human immunodeficiency virus on antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Alcohol use, and particularly unhealthy alcohol use, is associated with poor human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related outcomes among persons living with HIV (PLWH). Despite a rapidly growing proportion of PLWH ≥50 years, alcohol use and its associated characteristics are underdescribed in this population. The authors describe alcohol use, severity, and associated characteristics using data from a sample of PLWH ≥50 years who participated in a trial of a telephone-based intervention to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Prevalence of clinically recognized alcohol and other substance use disorders among VA outpatients with unhealthy alcohol use identified by routine alcohol screening.

Objective: The purpose of routine alcohol screening is to identify patients who may benefit from brief intervention, but patients who also have alcohol and other substance use disorders (AUD/SUD) likely require more intensive interventions. This study sought to determine the prevalence of clinically documented AUD/SUD among VA outpatients with unhealthy alcohol use identified by routine screening.

Methods: VA patients 18-90 years who screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use (AUDIT-C ≥3 women; ≥4 men) and were randomly selected for quality improvement standardized medical record review (6/06-6/10) were included.

Dietary quality and adequacy among Aboriginal alcohol consumers in the Northwest Territories, Canada.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess dietary adequacy and quality among Inuvialuit alcohol consumers and non-consumers in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: A validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered to individuals (n = 216) of randomly selected households in 3 NWT communities to capture dietary intake and alcohol consumption over a 30-day recall period.

Dietary adequacy and dietary quality of Inuit in the Canadian Arctic who smoke and the potential implications for chronic disease.

Objective: To compare dietary intake and quality among adult Inuit by smoking status.

Design: A cross-sectional study using data from a validated quantitative FFQ.

Setting: Three isolated communities in Nunavut, Canada.