This commentary offers another reminder that there is significant bias in which trauma patients receive alcohol testing when that decision is made on a case by case basis. Age, sex, socioeconomic, race, injury pattern, all have been shown to influence provider ordering. Trauma systems should have pre-defined ordering criteria to eliminate this bias. The importance of gathering this testing information is to provide intervention and treatment to those in need. First we have to identify all patients in need.
References
Vanessa Cubas1, David N Naumann Addressing biases in alcohol testing for trauma patients: what is the solution? Emergency Medicine Journal. Volume 40 Issue 11. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2023-213419
