Implementing patient-centered care for alcohol use issues

Systematic Implementation of Patient-centered Care for Alcohol Use Trial: Beyond Referral to Treatment

This study tests two new ways to improve care for people dealing with alcohol use issues in primary care clinics to see if they can help patients make better decisions about their treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1500 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Kaiser Permanente (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Seattle, Washington)
• Trial ID: NCT06318026 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This trial tests two interventions aimed at improving patient-centered care for individuals with alcohol use symptoms within Kaiser Permanente Washington. It employs a pragmatic, cluster-randomized design involving 25 primary care clinics, which will be assigned to either usual care, a primary care intervention, or a centralized intervention. The focus is on enhancing shared decision-making and population-based management for patients experiencing unhealthy alcohol use.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult primary care patients aged 18 and older who exhibit symptoms of alcohol use disorder and are identified as high-risk drinkers.

Not a fit: Patients who have opted out of research participation or those involved in the Vanguard pilot study may not benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the management and outcomes for patients with alcohol use disorder.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in implementing patient-centered care approaches, suggesting potential success for this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult primary care patients ≥18 years old on the day of a primary care appointment; and
2. ≥4 symptoms on the Alcohol Symptom Checklist, or 2-3 symptoms on the Alcohol Symptom Checklist with at least one symptom associated with high risk of progression to severe symptoms, documented in the electronic health record associated with the primary care appointment; and
3. high-risk drinking on the alcohol screening questionnaire (AUDIT-C ≥7) on the day of the Alcohol Symptom Checklist or in the prior 30 days documented in the electronic health record.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Documented request to not participate in research, or
2. Patient was eligible for the Vanguard pilot study.

Where this trial is running

Seattle, Washington

• Kaiser Permanente Washington — Seattle, Washington, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Katharine Bradley, MD, MPH — Kaiser Permanente
• Study coordinator: Katharine Bradley, MD, MPH

Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder, Unhealthy Alcohol Use, Patient-centered care, Shared decision-making, Population-based management, Quality improvement, Decision aid