Aim: To evaluate the effect on recurrent admission for alcohol-induced pancreatitis (that can be up to 48%) of a brief social work intervention for alcohol dependence in a single center in Ireland
Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients admitted with acute alcohol-induced pancreatitis to a tertiary hospital in Ireland from January 2009 to December 2012.
Results: The relapse rate in the cohort of 160 patients with alcohol-induced pancreatitis was 28.1%. There was no difference in the relapse rate of those patients who received a social work intervention compared with those who did not (ANOVA, P = 0.229). The employment status was a significant risk factor for relapse (ANOVA, P = 0.027), but did not differ between those who did, and did not, receive the intervention.
Conclusion: Although the cohort size did not allow great statistical power, it appears that our hospital's current social work intervention for alcohol-induced pancreatitis is ineffective in preventing relapse. Long-term prospective studies are required to formulate and better implement more efficacious interventions for such patients.
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