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The Dynamic Assessment and Referral System for Substance Abuse (DARSSA): development, functionality, and end-user
Edwin D Boudreaux1, Kristyna L Bedek, Donna Gilles
1Department of Emergency Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, United States. boudreaux-edwin@cooperhealth.edu
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|September 9, 2008
Summary
The Dynamic Assessment and Referral System for Substance Abuse (DARSSA) effectively identifies risky substance users in medical settings, many missed by routine assessments. This system offers a user-friendly, desirable service with potential to improve substance abuse treatment referrals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Substance abuse often goes undetected in routine medical assessments.
- Effective identification and referral are crucial for intervention.
- Existing systems may lack dynamic and personalized referral capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Dynamic Assessment and Referral System for Substance Abuse (DARSSA).
- To assess DARSSA's effectiveness in identifying risky substance users in a medical setting.
- To measure patient and provider satisfaction with the DARSSA.
Main Methods:
- A computerized assessment system (DARSSA) was piloted and refined.
- 85 medical patients were enrolled in the study.
- DARSSA identified risky substance users and offered dynamic referrals to treatment providers.
Main Results:
- DARSSA identified 56% of participants as risky substance users, exceeding routine assessment detection.
- Satisfaction scores were high, ranging from 'Good' to 'Excellent' among patients and providers.
- 42% of identified risky users opted for a dynamic referral.
Conclusions:
- DARSSA is a user-friendly system that improves substance abuse identification in medical settings.
- The system has the potential to enhance treatment seeking by providing direct referrals.
- Further research is needed to confirm its impact on treatment initiation and abstinence.
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