Abstract:
Background: Severe alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening, especially if not identified early. The Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Score (PAWSS) is a validated tool shown to be best in predicting clinically significant alcohol withdrawal. Local problem: Hospital medicine providers (physicians and advanced practice providers including nurse practitioners and physician assistants), at an academic medical facility, are not utilizing a tool to assess risk of developing severe alcohol withdrawal. Lack of use of risk assessment tool leads to variable treatment decisions from providers and potential for adverse complications. Methods: A pre- and post-survey using mixed methodology will be obtained to evaluate knowledge gaps, current practice using risk assessment tools, and comfortability assessing risk for alcohol withdrawal. Interventions: An educational intervention will be implemented to translate knowledge to providers on the PAWSS tool and benefits of use, along with dissemination of data on alcohol withdrawal patients at study institution. Results: Providers will have increased knowledge and comfortability with use of PAWSS tool and report improved evidenced-based decision-making capability. Preliminary results will be presented. Conclusions/Implications: Evidence based treatment decisions, by using the PAWSS tool for alcohol withdrawal severity risk, will improve quality of care, appropriate use of mediation regimen, and healthcare resource utilization, while decreasing length of stay and possibility of adverse events.
Knowledge Assessment of Hospitalist Providers on Alcohol Withdrawal Risk Assessment Tools: A Quality Improvement Project
Background: Severe alcohol withdrawal can be life threatening, especially if not identified early. The Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Score (PAWSS) is a validated tool shown to be best in predicting clinically significant alcohol withdrawal. Local problem: Hospital medicine providers (physicians and advanced practice providers including nurse practitioners and physician assistants), at an academic medical facility, are not utilizing a tool to assess risk of developing severe alcohol withdrawal. Lack of use of risk assessment tool leads to variable treatment decisions from providers and potential for adverse complications. Methods: A pre- and post-survey using mixed methodology will be obtained to evaluate knowledge gaps, current practice using risk assessment tools, and comfortability assessing risk for alcohol withdrawal. Interventions: An educational intervention will be implemented to translate knowledge to providers on the PAWSS tool and benefits of use, along with dissemination of data on alcohol withdrawal patients at study institution. Results: Providers will have increased knowledge and comfortability with use of PAWSS tool and report improved evidenced-based decision-making capability. Preliminary results will be presented. Conclusions/Implications: Evidence based treatment decisions, by using the PAWSS tool for alcohol withdrawal severity risk, will improve quality of care, appropriate use of mediation regimen, and healthcare resource utilization, while decreasing length of stay and possibility of adverse events.
