Controlled observational study and economic evaluation of the effect of city-centre night-time alcohol intoxication management services on the emergency care system compared to usual care

Moore, Simon C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5495-4705, Young, Tracey, Irving, Andy, Goodacre, Steve, Brennan, Alan and Amos, Yvette 2021. Controlled observational study and economic evaluation of the effect of city-centre night-time alcohol intoxication management services on the emergency care system compared to usual care. Emergency Medicine Journal 38 (7) , pp. 504-510. 10.1136/emermed-2019-209273

	PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (289kB)
	PDF - Supplemental Material Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (793kB)

Abstract

Background Alcohol intoxication management services (AIMS) provide an alternative care pathway for alcohol-intoxicated adults otherwise requiring emergency department (ED) services and at times of high incidence. We estimate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of AIMS on ED attendance rates with ED and ambulance service performance indicators as secondary outcomes. Methods A controlled longitudinal retrospective observational study in English and Welsh towns, six with AIMS and six without. Control and intervention cities were matched by sociodemographic characteristics. The primary outcome was ED attendance rate per night, secondary analyses explored hospital admission rates and ambulance response times. Interrupted time series analyses compared control and matched intervention sites pre-AIMS and post-AIMS. Cost-effectiveness analyses compared the component costs of AIMS to usual care before with results presented from the National Health Service and social care prospective. The number of diversions away from ED required for a service to be cost neutral was determined. Results Analyses found considerable variation across sites, only one service was associated with a significant reduction in ED attendances (−4.89, p<0.01). The services offered by AIMS varied. On average AIMS had 7.57 (mean minimum=1.33, SD=1.37 to mean maximum=24.66, SD=12.58) in attendance per session, below the 11.02 diversions away from ED at which services would be expected to be cost neutral. Conclusions AIMSs have variable effects on the emergency care system, reflecting variable structures and processes, but may be associated with modest reductions in the burden on ED and ambulance services. The more expensive model, supported by the ED, was the only configuration likely to divert patients away from ED. AIMS should be regarded as fledgling services that require further work to realise benefit.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Dentistry Crime and Security Research Institute (CSURI)
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:	1472-0205
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 October 2020
Date of Acceptance:	4 October 2020
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2024 23:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/135318

Citation Data

Cited 1 time in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item