Chieko Ito1, Takefumi Yuzuriha2, Tatsuya Noda3, Toshiyuki Ojima4, Hisanori Hiro5, Susumu Higuchi6. 1. National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. 2. National Hospital Organization Hizen Psychiatric Center, 160 Mitsu, Yoshinogari, Kanzaki, Saga 842-0192, Japan takefumi@hizen.hosp.go.jp. 3. Department of Public Health, Health Management and Policy, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-Cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan. 4. Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan. 5. Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-0804, Japan. 6. National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, 5-3-1 Nobi Yokosuka, Kanagawa 239-0841, Japan.
Abstract
AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of brief intervention (BI) conducted in the workplace for heavy drinkers. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at six companies in Japan. Participants were heavy drinkers who met the inclusion criteria and were randomized into three groups: the BI group, BI with diary group and a control group. Outcomes (total drinks, binge drinking episodes and alcohol-free days) were evaluated at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: The 304 participants recruited were allocated to the three groups and 277 participated in all follow-up evaluations. Dropout rates in the respective groups were 7.0, 14.9 and 5.5%. Some improvements were observed in all the groups. In particular, alcohol-free days in the BI group were significantly increased by 93.0% at 12 months. Total drinks at 12 months were reduced by 41 g per week in the BI group compared with the control group, although the intergroup difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: BI in the workplace is effective for increasing the number of alcohol-free days. However, the effectiveness on decreasing alcohol consumption was unclear, which could be explained by alcohol screening itself causing a reduction in drinking.
RCT Entities:
AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of brief intervention (BI) conducted in the workplace for heavy drinkers. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at six companies in Japan. Participants were heavy drinkers who met the inclusion criteria and were randomized into three groups: the BI group, BI with diary group and a control group. Outcomes (total drinks, binge drinking episodes and alcohol-free days) were evaluated at 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: The 304 participants recruited were allocated to the three groups and 277 participated in all follow-up evaluations. Dropout rates in the respective groups were 7.0, 14.9 and 5.5%. Some improvements were observed in all the groups. In particular, alcohol-free days in the BI group were significantly increased by 93.0% at 12 months. Total drinks at 12 months were reduced by 41 g per week in the BI group compared with the control group, although the intergroup difference was not significant. CONCLUSION:BI in the workplace is effective for increasing the number of alcohol-free days. However, the effectiveness on decreasing alcohol consumption was unclear, which could be explained by alcohol screening itself causing a reduction in drinking.
Authors: G W Shorter; N Heather; Jeremy W Bray; E L Giles; A Holloway; C Barbosa; A H Berman; A J O'Donnell; M Clarke; K J Stockdale; D Newbury-Birch Journal: Trials Date: 2017-12-22 Impact factor: 2.279