%0 Journal Article
%T Study design to examine the potential role of assessment reactivity in the Screening, Motivational Assessment, Referral, and Treatment in Emergency Departments (SMART-ED) protocol
%A Dennis M Donovan
%A Michael P Bogenschutz
%A Harold Perl
%A Alyssa Forcehimes
%A Bryon Adinoff
%A Raul Mandler
%A Neal Oden
%A Robrina Walker
%J Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1940-0640-7-16
%X The protocol employs a 3-arm design. Following an initial brief screening, individuals identified as positive cases are consented, asked to provide demographic and locator information, and randomly assigned to one of the three conditions: minimal screening only, screening + assessment, or screening + assessment + brief intervention. In a two-stage process, the randomization procedure first reveals whether or not the participant will be in the minimal-screening-only condition. Participants in the other two groups receive a more extensive baseline assessment before it is revealed whether they have been randomized to also receive a brief intervention. Comparing the screening only and screening + assessment conditions will allow determination of the incremental effect of assessment reactivity.Assessment reactivity is a potential source of bias that may reduce and/or lead to an underestimation of the purported effectiveness of brief interventions. From a methodological perspective, it needs to be accounted for in research designs. The SMART-ED design offers an approach to minimize assessment reactivity as a potential source of bias. Elucidating the role of assessment reactivity may offer insights into the mechanisms underlying SBIRT as well as suggest clinical options incorporating assessment reactivity as a treatment adjunct. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01207791.
%U http://www.ascpjournal.org/content/7/1/16/abstract