Practice Facilitation for Unhealthy Alcohol Use

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

+1 other location

Overseen byEmily C. Williams, PhD MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?In order to improve the quality of alcohol-related care for those with unhealthy alcohol use, the current research will use an evidence-based implementation strategy, practice facilitation, at one VA primary care site to pilot test whether practice facilitation has the potential to improve the quality of primary care-based alcohol-related care . It is hypothesized that primary care providers who take part in the practice facilitation intervention will provide higher quality substance use care to Veterans with unhealthy alcohol use compared to care pre-practice facilitation (e.g., administer evidence-based brief counseling interventions at higher rates, prescribe alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy at higher rates, increase referrals to specialty substance use disorder clinics).

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Veterans aged 18 or older who are receiving care at a VA primary care site where the study is being conducted. It's specifically for those with unhealthy alcohol use and includes primary care staff involved in screening, as well as providers practicing at the clinic regularly.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.

I am a primary care provider who screens for alcohol use and works at the clinic weekly.

You are a veteran receiving care at a VA primary care site during the pilot testing of a new healthcare intervention.

Participant Groups

The study tests an implementation strategy called practice facilitation to see if it can improve how primary care handles unhealthy alcohol use. The goal is to see if this approach helps providers offer better substance use care, like more effective counseling and increased referrals to specialty clinics.

1Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Practice facilitation implementation interventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

6 months during which practice facilitation is implemented to support the primary care clinic in improving routine, population-based screening, assessment, treatment, and follow-up for unhealthy alcohol use and AUDs.