Extrait

Background and study aims Drunkenness is a common night-time problem in many UK towns and cities. Traditionally, people who are very drunk have either been escorted to a hospital Emergency Departments (ED) so that their health can be monitored or police custody if they commit an offence. Recently the police issued guidance for all UK forces stating that those who are drunk cannot be housed in custody due to possible health complications, unless a clinical decision maker determines that it is safe to do so. The ED is one of the few clinical services available in the evening and this is where most of those who need clinical input end up, typically by ambulance. This places additional demand on overstretched emergency services at a time when they are experiencing unprecedented levels of demand. Alcohol Intoxication Management Services (AIMS) sometimes called “Drunk Tanks” in the media and Alcohol Welfare Centres or Alcohol Treatment Centres (ATCs) elsewhere, are services that provide a safe environment in which drunk people can be assessed, treated if necessary, monitored or referred to hospital (but only if required). The primary goal is to safely divert as many of those who are drunk away from the ED into AIMS to improve the provision of care in EDs, provide facilities where police, ambulance and others can quickly hand over drunk patients to staff and therefore improve patient experiences of care in the community generally. The aim of this study to test how acceptable AIMS are to their users, how well they work and whether they are cost effective. Who can participate? Adults that have attended a AIMS or ED and then discharged after treatment, AIMS staff and other stakeholders (for example, policy makers). What does the study involve? This study involves observing people involved in AIMS and interviewing them (for example, health workers and policy makers), interivews with patients being treated in a AIMS and asking people who have used a AIMS or ED to fill in surveys. The questions asked are designed to find out, for example, how AIMS impact on the work practices on frontline staff treating drunken people, how acceptable people find the treatment, and how being treated in an AIMS affects people’s views on treatment in a ED. The researchers also want to find out what impact AIMS may have on ambulance and other health services. This data is also used to make comparison between AIMS areas and those that do not offer AIMS. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Although the interviews will not address sensitive issues, it may cause the user embarrassment or distress, or they may raise sensitive issues themselves. As the interviews are by telephone rather than face-to-face this will offer an easier way to raise sensitive issues. These risks will be minimized by drawing upon input from the Sheffield Emergency Care Forum (SECF) and Sheffield Addiction Recovery Research Panel (ShARRP) Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) groups to ensure that the interviews are undertaken in a supportive and non-judgmental manner and focus upon the user experience of the service. Where is the study run from? Cardiff Alcohol Treatment Centre (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? January 2016 to June 2018 Who is funding the study? National Institute for Health Research (UK) Who is the main contact? Mr Andy Irving

Critère d'inclusion

• Acute alcohol intoxication

Liens

• isrctn
• ictrp