Developing a brief monitoring procedure for alcohol-dependent liver graft recipients

To address the occurrence of deaths in later postoperative years among alcohol-dependent liver graft recipients, the authors developed the Brief Active Focused Follow-Up protocol as an instrument for monitoring alcohol use following liver transplant. In this preliminary study, patient receptiveness to its use was tested and its ability to identify patient drinking was noted. Alcohol-dependent liver transplant recipients (N=24) and alcohol-dependent nontransplant patients (N=25) were asked to rate their receptiveness to the Brief Active Focused Follow-Up in three areas. Subjects used a five-point scale for which 5 indicated the highest positive response. Liver transplant recipients responded positively to the Brief Active Focused Follow-Up, with mean responses of 4.92, 4.08, and 4.63 with regard to clarity, usefulness, and ease of completion, respectively. Nontransplant subjects responded similarly, with mean responses of 4.88, 4.12, and 4.52. The two groups were not significantly different in their receptiveness to the Brief Active Focused Follow-Up interview. The Brief Active Focused Follow-Up identified alcohol use within the last 30 days: 8% (N=2 of 24) in the transplant group, and 56% (N=14 of 25) in the nontransplant group. These results suggest that 1) this manualized, brief monitoring technique is well received by alcohol-dependent liver transplant patients, and 2) the Brief Active Focused Follow-Up's "user friendliness" makes it a potentially appropriate instrument for long-term monitoring of alcohol use among alcohol-dependent liver graft recipients.