Are you aware that many of your patients are not aware of the long term damage their alcohol consumption is having on their bodies?
Are your patients aware that your liver is not the only organ you can damage?
Are your patients aware of the amount of alcohol they are actually consuming?
Is it time to take action? Could you as their pharmacist do more?
Have you heard of an AUDIT-C scratch card?
The screening tool developed by Public Health England, known as Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is composed of ten questions designed to establish how at risk your patient is due to their alcohol assumption.
In London a scratch card known as AUDIT-C was released, over 24,000 scratch cards were distributed across London. A simple process asking three questions:
1) How often do you have a drink containing alcohol?
2) How many units of alcohol do you drink on a typical day when you are drinking?
3) How often have you had 6 or more units if female, or 8 or more if you are male, on a single occasion in the last year?
If the patient achieves a score of 5 or more, then the patient will be asked to complete the full AUDIT questionnaire.
Following identification, through Validated Screening Tools, of high risk due to alcohol consumption, a few minutes of alcohol advice, can reduce a patient’s alcohol consumption between 15 – 34 %.
You all have a part to play in protecting the health and wellbeing of your patients. It is time to get involved!
Call if you need advice regarding the essential service of promoting a healthy lifestyle on 01252 302342