Research Brief: Alcohol Diagnostic Validation for Injury-Related Trauma (AVIRT)
Research Brief: Alcohol Diagnostic Validation for Injury-Related Trauma (AVIRT)
Introduction
Alcohol consumption is a key driver of the burden of injury and violence in South Africa (SA). Alcohol-related injuries place a significant burden on emergency healthcare services, particularly on weekends and at night. Knowing a patient’s alcohol level when they arrive at the emergency room is essential for accurate diagnosis, as alcohol can hide or mimic other conditions. It may also help ensure proper treatment, improve patient safety by allowing early management of alcohol withdrawal and plan discharge and follow-up care. On another level, it can be useful in determining the burden of alcohol harm on the health care system and the impact of upstream policy interventions.
However, routine testing and screening for alcohol consumption are lacking in SA emergency rooms (ERs). Reasons include the substantial delay between a patient being injured and treated and a lack of appropriate alcohol diagnostic tools in ER settings.