Date of Publication
2025
Project Team
Rosemary Dale, Ed.D., APRN, Alison Bovee, RN
Abstract
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is among the top ten causes of preventable death in the United States and causes health and social complications. Screening for SUD is the first step towards treatment since screening identifies the disorder, yet barriers to screening result in unrecognized and untreated SUD. This quality improvement project established baseline data on the prevalence of SUD within a local Vermont primary care clinic’s patient population. The project also sought to assess current provider screening practices and provide patients with access to local SUD resources. The CAGE-AID screening tool, a validated instrument for identifying individuals with or at risk for SUD, was utilized for this project. Patients voluntarily and anonymously completed the CAGE-AID screening tool, providing ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers to four questions surrounding substance use. If patients answered ‘yes’ to any of the four questions, this indicated a positive screen. A total of 25 screenings were completed. Results indicated that 40% of patients could screen positive for current SUD or an increased risk for development of SUD. Local SUD resources were provided, with 52% of patients taking the resource page, highlighting patient interest. The findings highlight the need for consistent SUD screening in primary care settings and underscore the importance of readily available resources for patients. Further research is recommended to explore strategies for improving patient participation in screening programs and evaluating the long-term impact of resource utilization.
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Recommended Citation
Hornbogen, Alexandra, "Improving Primary Care Clinic Screening for Substance Use Disorder" (2025). College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications. 169.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cnhsdnp/169
