INTRODUCTION: The study was designed to test a brief intervention for reducing alcohol consumption among moderate to heavy (hazardous) drinkers in a busy HMO primary care setting. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, hazardous drinkers (n = 516) were identified by the AUDIT screening questionnaire. Intervention included brief clinician advice (30 seconds), a 15-minute motivational session by counselors, and printed materials. RESULTS: At six-month follow-up, intervention subjects reported fewer total standard drinks in the past three months (176 versus 216, P = .04, one-tailed) and fewer drinking days per week (2.8 versus 3.3, P = .02) than controls, but similar drinks per drinking day (3.3 versus 3.5; P = .13). At 12 months, intervention subjects again reported fewer drinking days per week (2.7 versus 3.1; P = .04) than controls, but similar numbers of standard drinks (157 versus 179; P = .13) and drinks per drinking day (3.6 versus 3.3; P = .20). Intervention subjects were somewhat more likely than controls to report drinking within daily recommended limits (< or = 3 for men, < or = 2 for women) at both six months (79% versus 71%; P = .06) and 12 months (80% versus 73%; P = .07), but did not differ significantly from controls on other drinking outcomes (percent abstinent, frequency of drinking > or = 6 drinks per drinking occasion, estimated peak blood alcohol concentration), or use of medical care in the year following intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A one-time, brief motivational intervention using minimal clinician time supplemented by trained counselors resulted in a modest reduction in frequency of alcohol consumption in a busy primary care population. Future research should focus on strengthening and maintaining intervention effects.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION: The study was designed to test a brief intervention for reducing alcohol consumption among moderate to heavy (hazardous) drinkers in a busy HMO primary care setting. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, hazardous drinkers (n = 516) were identified by the AUDIT screening questionnaire. Intervention included brief clinician advice (30 seconds), a 15-minute motivational session by counselors, and printed materials. RESULTS: At six-month follow-up, intervention subjects reported fewer total standard drinks in the past three months (176 versus 216, P = .04, one-tailed) and fewer drinking days per week (2.8 versus 3.3, P = .02) than controls, but similar drinks per drinking day (3.3 versus 3.5; P = .13). At 12 months, intervention subjects again reported fewer drinking days per week (2.7 versus 3.1; P = .04) than controls, but similar numbers of standard drinks (157 versus 179; P = .13) and drinks per drinking day (3.6 versus 3.3; P = .20). Intervention subjects were somewhat more likely than controls to report drinking within daily recommended limits (< or = 3 for men, < or = 2 for women) at both six months (79% versus 71%; P = .06) and 12 months (80% versus 73%; P = .07), but did not differ significantly from controls on other drinking outcomes (percent abstinent, frequency of drinking > or = 6 drinks per drinking occasion, estimated peak blood alcohol concentration), or use of medical care in the year following intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A one-time, brief motivational intervention using minimal clinician time supplemented by trained counselors resulted in a modest reduction in frequency of alcohol consumption in a busy primary care population. Future research should focus on strengthening and maintaining intervention effects.
Authors: Mary M Velasquez; Karen S Ingersoll; Mark B Sobell; R Louise Floyd; Linda Carter Sobell; Kirk von Sternberg Journal: Cogn Behav Pract Date: 2010-05-01
Authors: Brian R Edlin; Thomas F Kresina; Daniel B Raymond; Michael R Carden; Marc N Gourevitch; Josiah D Rich; Laura W Cheever; Victoria A Cargill Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2005-04-15 Impact factor: 9.079