3 research outputs found
Assessment of alcohol problems using AUDIT in a prison setting: more than an 'aye or no' question
<br>Background: Alcohol problems are a major UK and international public health issue. The prevalence of alcohol
problems is markedly higher among prisoners than the general population. However, studies suggest alcohol
problems among prisoners are under-detected, under-recorded and under-treated. Identifying offenders with
alcohol problems is fundamental to providing high quality healthcare. This paper reports use of the AUDIT
screening tool to assess alcohol problems among prisoners.</br>
<br>Methods: Universal screening was undertaken over ten weeks with all entrants to one male Scottish prison using
the AUDIT standardised screening tool and supplementary contextual questions. The questionnaire was
administered by trained prison officers during routine admission procedures. Overall 259 anonymised completed
questionnaires were analysed.</br>
<br>Results: AUDIT scores showed a high prevalence of alcohol problems with 73% of prisoner scores indicating an
alcohol use disorder (8+), including 36% having scores indicating āpossible dependenceā (20-40).
AUDIT scores indicating āpossible dependenceā were most apparent among 18-24 and 40-64 year-olds (40% and
56% respectively). However, individual questions showed important differences, with younger drinkers less likely to
demonstrate habitual and addictive behaviours than the older age group. Disparity between high levels of
harmful/hazardous/dependent drinking and low levels of ātreatmentā emerged (only 27% of prisoners with scores
indicating āpossible dependenceā reported being āin treatmentā).
Self-reported associations between drinking alcohol and the index crime were identified among two-fifths of
respondents, rising to half of those reporting violent crimes.</br>
<br>Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify differing behaviours and needs among prisoners
with high AUDIT score ranges, through additional analysis of individual questions. The study has identified high
prevalence of alcohol use, varied problem behaviours, and links across drinking, crime and recidivism, supporting
the argument for more extensive provision of alcohol-focused interventions in prisons. These should be carefully
targeted based on initial screening and assessment, responsive, and include care pathways linking prisoners to
community services. Finally, findings confirm the value and feasibility of routine use of the AUDIT screening tool in
prison settings, to considerably enhance practice in the detection and understanding of alcohol problems,
improving on current more limited questioning (e.g. āyes or noā questions).</br>
Association of Treatment Duration and Clinical Outcomes in Dry Eye Treatment with Sutureless Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane
Marguerite McDonald,1 Susan B Janik,2 Frank W Bowden,3 Amit Chokshi,4 Michael A Singer,5 Sean Tighe,6,7 Olivia G Mead,6 Seema Nanda,8 Mujtaba A Qazi,9 Damon Dierker,10 Adam T Shupe,11 Brittany J McMurren12 1Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Lynbrook, NY, USA; 2Solinsky Eye Care, Kensington, CT, USA; 3Bowden Eye & Associates, Jacksonville, FL, USA; 4Florida Eye Specialists, Jacksonville, FL, USA; 5Medical Center Ophthalmology Associates, San Antonio, TX, USA; 6BioTissue Holdings, Inc, Miami, FL, USA; 7Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 8Nanda Dry Eye & Vision Institute, Houston, TX, USA; 9Pepose Vision Institute, Chesterfield, MO, USA; 10Eye Surgeons of Indiana, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 11Royo Eye Care, Marysville, CA, USA; 12Werner Optometry, San Diego, CA, USACorrespondence: Sean Tighe, 7300 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 700, Miami, FL, 33126, USA, Email [email protected]: While sutureless, cryopreserved amniotic membrane (cAM) has been shown to significantly improve signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), no studies have assessed the association of cAM treatment duration to the differential response in clinical outcomes.Methods: A multi-center, retrospective study was conducted on patients with moderate-to-severe DED who were treated with self-retained cAM (ProkeraĀ® Slim) for 2 to 7 days. The primary outcome measure was DEWS severity score assessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Secondary outcome measures included ocular discomfort, visual symptoms, corneal staining, and visual acuity.Results: A total of 89 eyes (77 patients) with moderate-to-severe DED (DEWS severity 3.24 Ā± 0.56) received treatment with self-retained cAM for 2 days (n = 10), 3 days (n = 15), 4 days (n = 12), 5 days (n = 19), 6 days (n = 6), or 7 days (n = 27). DEWS scores significantly improved at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months for all treatment duration groups, with no significant difference observed between groups at any timepoint. In addition to an improvement in DEWS severity scores, those receiving cAM treatment for 2 days demonstrated a significant improvement in corneal staining, visual symptoms, and ocular discomfort at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that a single placement of self-retained cAM for 2 days can significantly improve signs and symptoms of DED with a lasting benefit observed for up to 3 months.Keywords: amniotic membrane, cryopreserved, dry eye, ocular surface, Proker