Injured adolescents from marginalized groups treated at pediatric trauma centers are more likely to be tested for drugs and alcohol than white adolescents, even when accounting for injury severity, a study led by researchers at UCLA and Children's Hospital Los Angeles suggests. The findings, to be published October 4 in the peer-reviewed JAMA Network Open , suggest that clinician biases could influence the selection of adolescents for biochemical substance use screening at pediatric trauma centers, said Dr. Jordan Rook, a general surgery resident at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study's lead author.
These inequitable screening patterns may lead to stigmatization and perhaps even legal implications for some injured adolescents. While screening can positively affect patients if it is followed by counseling and treatment, it can also lead to negative consequences. We believe that existing guidelines on substance use screening may be inadequate to achieve equitable high-quality screening in adolescent trauma care.
Stricter guidance and oversight and/or the implementation of universal screening protocols and equitable utilization of support services may be needed." Dr. Jordan Rook, general surgery resident, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA The researchers used data from the 2017-2021 ACS Trauma Quality Programs for 85,400 adolescent trauma patients ages 12 to 17 years-old from 121 pediatric trauma centers.
Of those adolescents, 67% were white, 82% were.