The feasibility of a new intake routine to assess substance use disorders by means of a structured interview

A structured interview, ADDIS (Alkohol Drog Diagnos InStrument), designed to assess substance use disorders, was included as a part of the intake protocol in a department of orthopedics at a general hospital. To evaluate both the effectiveness and feasibility of the new procedure, the attitudes of 29 staff members were sampled during follow-up interviews. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to 254 patients to examine their opinions about the interview. The staff made a global evaluation of the new routine on a 10-point scale, ranging from completely negative (1) to completely positive (10). The mean rating was 8.2 (range 5-10). The evaluations made by the staff members in the interviews were very positive. Of the 254 patients, 177 (70%) returned the questionnaire. More than 90% of the patients appreciated being asked about their use of analgesics and sedatives, and 77% felt it was positive to be asked about their alcohol use. The result of the patient questionnaire supports the feasibility of the routine, suggesting that a structured interview can be included in the intake protocol in order to improve the assessment of substance use disorders.