Summary

• Users practice alcohol screening and brief intervention with a simulated patient
• Intended for healthcare providers who work with patients (including, but not limited to, doctors, nurses, physicians' assistants, and pharmacists)
• Variable alcohol risk levels and character versions allow for (and encourage) repeated practice
• Users receive ongoing feedback on their progress and also receive a post-conversation score on their mastery of the learning objectives
• Created in partnership with the University of Wisconsin and in accordance with standards set by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Scenario

• Users assume the role of a health practitioner who is examining a patient, Christy Johnson, following a minor car accident. The simulation focuses on the part of the examination when the user must conduct an alcohol screening and brief intervention with Christy.
• Christy is different in each conversation, based on a combination of alcohol abuse risk level, personality, and mood
• Topics that the user/health practitioner can discuss include:
  • Quantity and frequency of drinking
  • Health, social, and legal consequences of drinking
  • Family history of alcohol use
  • Recommendations for Christy's risk level (remain within current limits, cut down, or abstain)
  • Christy's readiness to change
  • A patient plan
  • Various resources (e.g., an alcohol support group) available to the patient

Learning Objectives

After achieving mastery through repeated conversations, the user will be able to:

• Diagnose a patient's alcohol risk level accurately
• Use patient-centered communication effectively
• Ask appropriate NIAAA-recommended screening questions
• Address brief intervention topics appropriate for patient's risk level
• Determine how much time is appropriate for discussing alcohol issues

Seat Time

• Approximately two hours of e-learning material based on NIAAA information on alcohol screening and brief intervention
• Simulated conversations last 15-45 minutes
• The average user will require 9 - 11 hours to achieve mastery of the learning objectives, but can learn the basics in as little as a few hours.

NOTE: Figure does not account for longer-term "refresher" sessions, which will vary by user