Population-Based Screening and Brief Intervention in Primary Care: Health and Drinking Outcomes, Cost and Utilization

In June 2013, Kaiser Permanente Northern California incorporated alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) into the clinical workflow of its Adult Medicine program, alongside other preventive health measures (e.g., smoking screening, exercise, cancer screening, etc.). SBIRT has demonstrated effectiveness in improving drinking outcomes among primary care patients. However, these patients frequently have comorbid conditions that also require management by primary care physicians. Beyond drinking outcomes, what if any additional beneficial health outcomes can be attributed to SBIRT for primary care patients who drink above recommended guidelines? Using population-level data, this observational, prospective cohort study will examine the effects of system-wide implementation of alcohol SBIRT in adult primary care within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, with a focus on health and drinking outcomes, as well as health care utilization and costs, over time.

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