Do minority or white patients respond to brief alcohol intervention in trauma centers?
Study objective: The current study evaluates whether the effectiveness of brief alcohol intervention in reducing 6-and 12-month risk of injuries in a large Level I urban trauma center varies according to trauma patients’ ethnicity. Methods: Eligible white, Hispanic, and black trauma patients aged 18 years or older were randomized to brief alcohol intervention or treatment as usual. The intervention was a “non-confrontational, patient-centered conversation” focused on patients’ drinking pattern, with the purpose of encouraging them to change risky drinking. Study outcomes were patient-reported 6-and 12-month incidence of all-type injuries, alcohol-related injuries, and serious injuries (ie, injuries requiring emergency department visit or hospital admission). Results: A total of 1,493 trauma patients (668 whites, 537 Hispanics, 288 blacks) participated in this study. After 1 year of follow-up, we were not able to detect any important association between brief intervention and the risk o
