Protocol for assessing alcohol withdrawal syndrome by nursing professionals in emergency services: a pilot test

Abstract

Objectives: This work speaks of a pilot test administered in four public services with emergency care (one at a hospital and three at community clinics) in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, to test an assessment protocol for Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. Involved were auxiliaries, technicians and soon-to-be-nurses. The object was to evaluate the protocol´s potential as a guide to nursing care, and to test whether it was adequate in terms of comprehension and applicability. Methods: A protocol based on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment was constructed to be applied by nursing professionals in hospitals and community clinics, allowing for possible alterations based upon individual patients. Fifty-nine workers tested the protocol over four months. Results: Sixty-eight patients (21 women and 47 men), with average age between 34 and 40 years, were interviewed. Alcohol was the predominant drug of use (90%) on a daily average between both sexes. The protocol was designed to systematize health care. Among its purposes were: to facilitate care (42.4%); provide a script for faster orientation (30.5%); provide information giving professional updates (25.4%); provide explanations regarding the particular sickness (23.7). Conclusions: The experience was positive, identifying a lack of knowledge about Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. However, an interest to learn more on the subject became evident among workers. Keywords: Alcoholism/nursing; Substance withdrawal syndrome; Nursing care RESUMO Objetivos: Relatar a experiência piloto em quatro serviços públicos com pronto-atendimento (um hospitalar e três comunitários) na cidade de Ribeirão Preto-São Paulo, para testar um protocolo de avaliação da Síndrome de Abstinência Alcoólica entre os auxiliares, técnicos e eventuais enfermeiros, e avaliar o potencial do formulário como guia norteador do cuidado de enfermagem, bem como a adequação do mesmo em termos de compreensão e aplicabilidade. Métodos: Construiu-se, um protocolo para ser aplicado por profissionais de enfermagem, baseado no Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment e na vivência em serviços hospitalar e comunitário, contendo alterações que o paciente apresenta. Cinquenta e nove funcionários testaram o protocolo durante quatro meses. Resultados: Sessenta e oito pacientes (21 mulheres e 47 homens), com idade média entre 34 e 40 anos, foram entrevistados e o álcool predominou como droga de uso (90%) num padrão diário em ambos os sexos. O protocolo colabora na sistematização da assistência, facilitando o cuidado (42,4%), como roteiro de orientação (30,5%) e atualização profissional pelas informações (25,4%) e explicações sobre doença (23,7). Conclusões: A experiência positiva identificou a carência de conhecimentos relativos à Síndrome de Abstinência Alcoólica, porém, evidenciou o interesse desses trabalhadores em aprender. Descritores: Alcoolismo/enfermagem; Síndrome de abstinência a substâncias; Cuidados de enfermagem RESUMEN Objetivos: Relatar la experiencia piloto en cuatro servicios públicos con servi...

Alcohol dependence syndrome in emergency services: assessment protocol for the professional nursing practice

“…Esto confirma al soporte organizativo como una de las barreras para la atención, afirmación registrada en estudio también sobre la población usuaria de servicios de urgencias 32 . El protocolo de evaluación del SAA para uso en el equipo de enfermería en investigación anterior se mostró adecuado por permitir la detección de los signos y síntomas de pacientes en unidad de urgencias y también fue identificado por estos trabajadores como una guía del cuidado de enfermería, pues estos deben ser conscientes de la importancia de esta profesión en la educación en salud con relación a los riesgos asociados al consumo de alcohol 19 .…”

“…El instrumento elaborado incluye observación, entrevista y el registro de la intervención de manera más simplificada, adecuada al tiempo y personal de enfermería que es quien primeramente aborda a los pacientes. La construcción del protocolo ahora presentado en este artículo fue probado 19 en estudio piloto con éxito, entre profesionales de enfermería quienes evaluaron el potencial del formulario como fuente de conocimiento, guía rectora del cuidado de enfermería y de adecuación semántica en la utilización de términos.…”

Patterns of Alcohol Use among Patients Who Visited Community Emergency Care Services in Southwestern Brazil

“…However, one of the main obstacles to applying measures to identify and intervene in this problem is the lack of personnel and training in mental healthcare. Knowledge acquired from formal education or later training has proved insufficient in both theory and in practice, there is a discontinuity in subsequent professional qualification programs, and working conditions are inadequate [8,9]. A Brazilian study [10] showed that the main difficulties in dealing with alcohol abuse in emergency care were lack of time, insufficient professional training and the belief that the issue should not be addressed in such environments.…”