A multi-method study to identify and validate alcohol diagnostics for injury-related trauma in South Africa: a study protocol

Introduction The burden of alcohol use among trauma patients and the relative injury risks is not routinely measured in South Africa (SA). Given the prominent burden of alcohol on hospital trauma departments, SA needs practical, cost-effective and accurate alcohol diagnostic tools for testing, surveillance and clinical management of trauma patients. This study aims to validate alcohol diagnostics for injury-related trauma and assess its utility for improving national health practice and policy. Methods and Analysis The Alcohol Diagnostic Validation for Injury-Related Trauma (AVIRT) study will use mixed methods across three work packages. Focus Group Discussions will be conducted with key stakeholders across four areas of expertise (clinical, academic, policy and operational) to determine the type of alcohol information that will be useful for different stakeholders in the injury prevention and healthcare sectors. We will then conduct a validation study of alcohol diagnostic tools (clinical assessment, breath analysis, finger-prick blood) against enzyme immunoassay blood concentration analysis in a tertiary hospital trauma setting. Finally, selected alcohol diagnostic tools will be tested in a district hospital setting alongside community-based participatory research on the utility of the selected tools. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the South African Medical Research Council and the Western Cape Health Department. Findings will be disseminated to inform strategies to introduce routine, cost-effective alcohol diagnostics optimally in a high trauma setting by ensuring accuracy, real world feasibility and institutional support.