INTERVIEW ANALYSIS epidemiological data

The alcohol misuse screening tool are designed to determine if you have alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD is excessive drinking that can cause serious problems in your work and professional life as well as your health.  Tan et al. (2018) includes health disease conditions as hypertension, sleep disorders, a variety of cancers and liver issues. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) endorses the use of screening tools to primary care providers (Tan et al., 2018).  These screening tools that can be administered in 5 minutes or less as per Tan et al. (2018) include the following 3: the ten-question Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the three-question AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C), and single question screeners such as the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Single Question (NIAAA Single Question). According to USPSTF, the age group it targets is adults 18 years or older including pregnant women.  USPSTF determined adolescents 12-17 would not benefit from use of the screening tool as the evidence was insufficient in balancing benefits and harms of the screening tools (Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions, 2018).

The screening tools have been utilized to test the groups it targets.  Various screening tools have been utilized for those aged 18+ besides those recommended by the USPSTF. As this is just a questionnaire/screening tool, there is no harm in patients answering the questions.  Utilizing the appropriate screening tools allow APNs to better identify patients with alcohol misuse behaviors so clinical interventions can be put into place for the patients.

To determine the test-retest reliability, predictive validity, and diagnostic accuracy of the tests Beard et al. (2019) compared the 1-item Strength of Urges to Drink (SUTD) scale with the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).  As the AUDIT measures harmful and hazardous drinking while SUTD measures the strength of urges to drink on a single day of high-risk drinkers.  Beard et al. (2019) collected data on 57,341 participants in the study with 95% of those participants being high risk drinkers.  Participants were asked to complete both questionnaires at start of study and 6 months later.  Test-retest reliability was assessed by calculating a reliability coefficient between the scores on the first and the second testing.  The predictive validity of the SUTD was assessed by inspecting the association between the SUTD scale and attempts to reduce alcohol intake, levels of alcohol consumption at follow-up and change in alcohol consumption between baseline and follow-up testing by means of a Mann–Whitney U test and linear-by-linear association chi-square test. In the study, Beard et al. (2019) assessed predictive accuracy utilizing Received Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated. Reliability values are as follows: SUTD r = 0.30 (95% CI 0.28 to 0.34), AUDIT r = 0.50, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.53 (Beard et al., 2019).  Predictive validity with attempts to cut down from baseline to follow up showed a total of 767 higher risk drinkers (25.9%; 95% CI 24.3 to 27.5) reported that they had attempted to reduce their alcohol consumption between baseline and follow-up (Beard et al., 2019).

Based on the information read about the test, it would be good to utilize these tools in APN practice. Healthcare practitioners can determine problematic alcohol use and can start implementing clinical interventions into the patients plan of care.  The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has noted that alcohol screening and brief intervention rank highly among effective preventive services based on their cost-effectiveness and potential to reduce clinically preventable burden (Screen and Assess: Use Quick, Effective Methods | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2023). If health care providers make screening for heavy drinking a routine part of care and use a quick tool recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that identifies people with unhealthy alcohol consumption, they can easily and effectively perform this task for the betterment of their patients.

References:

Beard, E., Brown, J., West, R., Drummond, C., Kaner, E., & Michie, S. (2019). Predictive Validity, diagnostic Accuracy and Test-Retest Reliability of the Strength of Urges to Drink (SUTD) scale. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(19), 3714. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193714

Screen and assess: Use quick, effective methods | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (2023, June 29). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/screen-and-assess-use-quick-effective-methods#:~:text=Alcohol%20screening%20and%20brief%20intervention%20can%20reduce%20drinking%20levels%3A%20Research,effective%20in%20primary%20care%20settings.

Tan, C., Hungerford, D. W., Denny, C. H., & McKnight-Eily, L. R. (2018). Screening for alcohol misuse: Practices among U.S. primary care providers, DocStyles 2016. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 54(2), 173–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.11.008

Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: Screening and Behavioral Counseling Interventions. (2018, November 13). www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Retrieved September 10, 2023, from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/unhealthy-alcohol-use-in-adolescents-and-adults-screening-and-behavioral-counseling-interventions

INTERVIEW ANALYSIS epidemiological data

Based on your interview notes from this week’s discussion activity, analyze the epidemiological data surrounding the health issue that your agency addresses. Compare the epidemiological data with the information provided by the agency director/representative by addressing the following points:

• How do the epidemiological data and the information provided by the agency director/representative differ?  How are they similar?
• Based on the epidemiological information collected, what is the true effect that the agency is having on your community?
• Appraise the various methods that should be employed to help the agency improve its effectiveness.
• Analyze the 10 Essential Services of Public Health and how they are (or are not) wrapped into the service provided by this agency.

Epidemiological data consists of statistical information on your population obtained through primary sources, which are typically research studies or government survey information (such as those provided by the CDC or health department).  Utilize the Ashford University Library and/or government websites to locate statistics that relate to your organization.  For example, if you interviewed someone from an organization that focused on childhood obesity, you would locate research studies that provided statistical results for your county, region, or state to illustrate what was actually occurring in your area regarding childhood obesity.  Once you have this data, compare it with the information provided by the agency director or representative that you interviewed.  In some cases, you may only be able to find actual state statistics, but your organization may have provided only local data.  This is okay; just make sure you note this in your paper and through critical thinking, infer how this might influence the effectiveness of your organization’s work.

Your paper should be three to four pages in length, excluding the title and reference pages, and formatted according to APA style guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Visit the Ashford University Library to locate a minimum of two scholarly sources that support your main ideas. Also, use surveillance information that was discussed as part of the epidemiology process.

INTERVIEW ANALYSIS555

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

• Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
• Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
• One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
• I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.

Weekly Participation

• Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
• In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
• Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
• Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.

APA Format and Writing Quality

• Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
• Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
• I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.

Use of Direct Quotes

• I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
• As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
• It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.

 

LopesWrite Policy

• For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
• Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
• Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
• Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.

Late Policy

• The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
• Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
• If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
• I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
• As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.

Communication

• Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me: 
  • Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
  • Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.