A Community-Based Evaluation of Screening,Brief Intervention,and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for the Black Community

Abstract

Limited research evaluates substance use prevention and intervention strategies for cultural sensitivity, appropriateness of content, patient/provider interactions, and implementation for racial and ethnic minority populations. This study uses the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to examine a community-based evaluation of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for implementation among the Black community in a small, urban setting. Data were gathered through four separate focus groups, one for service providers (n = 7), one for community youth leaders (n = 8), and two for community members (n = 10). Findings suggest that a range of multi-level service needs and underlying mechanisms of implementation should be considered when administering SBIRT within community health settings serving Black populations. This community-involved evaluation of SBIRT responds to the call for the examination of implementation in specific settings, and suggests a need for further examinations of strategies that support engagement through SBIRT and other innovations.