Authors (including presenting author) :
Suen HN (1), Wong MH (1), Tse CY (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Psychiatry, Tai Po Hospital
Introduction :
In 2023, an 18% prevalence of alcohol use (142 of 830 admitted male psychiatric patients) was identified in Tai Po Hospital. Alcohol consumption can lead to life-threating risks, including intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, and increased fall risk. Supported by 2024 QOCP funding, a POCT device, Alcohol Analyzer, was implemented in a male psychiatric ward at Tai Po Hospital since 12/2024. The device measures blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from breath samples, improving early detection and management of alcohol use, marking its first use across the hospitals. BAC levels serve as an important indicator of physiological conditions, facilitating timely management to uphold patient safety. Research also shows that BAC measurements can predict the severity of withdrawal symptoms, highlighting the importance of this screening. This paper illustrates how Alcohol Analyzer enhance early detection and management in psychiatric admissions.
Objectives :
• Early detection of acute alcohol intoxication
• Early prediction of the severity of alcohol withdrawal
• Early identification of patients' alcohol induced fall risks
• Enhancement of staff awareness and monitoring of alcohol management practices
Methodology :
The alcohol analyzer is employed to screen patients' BAC levels upon admission, particularly for those with alcohol-related disorders or a history of withdrawal complications. The newly implemented workflow is based on recent studies suggesting BAC thresholds of 0.12% and 0.3% to identify patients at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms, alcohol-related falls and acute intoxication. With the support of medical officers, this implementation allows timely interventions, including managing withdrawal levels, preventing falls, and transferring acutely intoxicated patients for urgent medical management. Evaluation involves tracking the numbers of screened patients, patients receiving management for withdrawal or intoxication, identification of alcohol-related fall risks, and assessing staff satisfaction levels.
Result & Outcome :
From 16/12/2024 to the date of submission, the implementation has led to significant outcomes. Among the targeted male patients, 29.8% (n=20; N=67) were screened upon admission, benefiting from early detection of their alcohol-related status. All these patients received tailored interventions for alcohol withdrawal or acute intoxication, demonstrating the effectiveness of this early detection. Moreover, 20% of patients (n=4; N=20) with BAC levels between 0.12% and 0.18% were identified as at risk for falls and received preemptive fall prevention, resulting in no related incidents.
In satisfaction surveys, 95% of staff (n=33; N=35) agreed that the analyzer facilitates early detection instead of waiting for results on blood ethanol levels, serving as a quick reference for interventions. The device is expected to be implemented in the female ward by late 01/2025 after staff training. Services will undergo comprehensive enhancements.
