A Chart Review of Substance Use Screening and Related Documentation among Adolescents in Outpatient Pediatric Clinics: Implications for Practice
Abstract Background: Despite recent reductions, youth substance use continues to be a concern in the United States. Structured primary care screening is recommended, but not widely implemented. The purpose of this study was to describe substance use screening in a large academic medical center, assess related factors, and evaluate screening documentation to inform practice. Methods: We abstracted a random sample of 127 records of patients aged 12-17 and coded clinical notes to identify screening cases and related characteristics. We then analyzed descriptive patterns within the data to calculate screening rates, characteristics of screening, and used multivariable logistic regression to identify related factors. Results: Rates of screening by providers were 72% for common substances (alcohol, marijuana, tobacco). The primary method of screening was use of clinical pneumonic cues rather than standardized screening tools. A total of 6% of patients reported substance use during screening. Older age and racial/ethnic minority status were associated with provider screening in multivariable logistic regression models. Conclusions: Despite recommendations, low rates of screening in primary care persist. Failure to use a standardized screening tool may contribute to low screening rates and biased screening. These findings may be used to inform implementation of standardized and structured screening in the clinical environment.