Health Trials

Preventing Harmful Alcohol Use Among Trauma Patients in Cameroon

ConditionsAlcohol Use DisorderAlcohol-Related InjuryTrauma
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of Buea

About this trial

\*\*Brief Summary\*\*

Alcohol use is a major contributor to injury burden in Cameroon, particularly among trauma patients presenting to emergency departments. Despite the strong association between alcohol use and injury, structured alcohol screening and intervention programs are not routinely integrated into trauma care in Cameroon. This study aims to evaluate a Cameroon-adapted Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program for trauma patients at the Limbe Regional Hospital.

The study will be conducted in three phases: (1) training emergency department healthcare providers on a culturally adapted SBIRT program; (2) evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of SBIRT implementation in routine emergency care; and (3) assessing the effectiveness of SBIRT in reducing harmful alcohol use among trauma patients. Healthcare workers will be trained to deliver SBIRT, and eligible trauma patients screening positive for risky alcohol use will be enrolled in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial. Participants will undergo alcohol screening using validated tools and will be followed for six months. Outcomes will include alcohol use measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), phosphatidylethanol (PEth) biomarker levels, referral uptake, implementation outcomes, and patient well-being measures.

The study is expected to generate evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating alcohol interventions into trauma care in a low-resource setting and inform future scale-up of SBIRT programs in Cameroon and similar settings.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Adult trauma patients aged 18 years and older presenting to the Emergency Department of Limbe Regional Hospital.

Positive alcohol screening based on the Single Alcohol Screening Question (SASQ).

AUDIT-C score ≥4 for men or ≥3 for women.

Able to provide informed consent.

Disqualifiers

Severe cognitive impairment preventing participation in study procedures or - provision of informed consent.

Severe traumatic brain injury or other medical condition requiring immediate life-saving intervention that precludes participation.

Current psychosis or severe psychiatric illness preventing meaningful participation in the intervention.

In police custody or other circumstances limiting ability to participate in follow-up.

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Cameroon-Adapted SBIRT

    Behavioral

    A culturally adapted Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program delivered by trained emergency department healthcare workers. The intervention includes alcohol risk screening, brief motivational interviewing-based counseling, and referral to treatment when appropriate.

  • Usual Care

    Other intervention

    Standard emergency department care without structured SBIRT delivery during the study follow-up period. Participants are offered SBIRT after completing six months of follow-up.

Treatment groups

690 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Immediate SBIRTExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Waitlist ControlActive comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Change in Alcohol Use at 6 Months

Change in harmful alcohol use from baseline to 6 months following enrollment, measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C).

Time frame
Baseline and 6 months
2

Change in Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) Levels

Change in alcohol consumption measured using phosphatidylethanol (PEth), a biomarker of recent alcohol use, from baseline to 6 months.

Time frame
Baseline and 6 months

Secondary outcomes

1

Alcohol Use at 1 Month

Change in Alcohol Use Measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score at 1 month following enrollment. The total score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater alcohol consumption and increased risk of hazardous or harmful drinking.

Time frame
1 month
2

Alcohol Use at 3 Months

Change in Alcohol Use Measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score at 3 month following enrollment. The total score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating greater alcohol consumption and increased risk of hazardous or harmful drinking.

Time frame
3 Months
3

PEth Levels at 1 Month

PEth concentration at 1 month following enrollment.

Time frame
1 Month
4

PEth Levels at 3 months

PEth concentration at 3 month following enrollment.

Time frame
3 month

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Buea

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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