@article{ref1,
title="A pragmatic randomised trial of two counselling models at the Swedish National Alcohol Helpline",
journal="BMC psychiatry",
year="2019",
author="Säfsten, Eleonor and Forsell, Yvonne and Ramstedt, Mats and Damström Thakker, Kerstin and Galanti, Maria Rosaria",
volume="19",
number="1",
pages="e213-e213",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Alcohol telephone helplines targeting alcohol consumers in the general population can extend the reach of brief interventions while preserving in-person counselling. So far, studies of client outcomes in the setting of alcohol helplines are scarce. This study aims to compare the 6-months alcohol-related outcomes of two counselling models delivered at the Swedish National Alcohol Helpline. <br><br>METHODS: A pragmatic randomised trial was set up at the Swedish National Alcohol Helpline. First-time callers with current hazardous or harmful alcohol use who contacted the helpline, from May 2015 to December 2017, were invited to participate. Clients were allocated with 1:1 ratio to two groups: (1) brief, structured intervention (n = 128), including self-help material and one counsellor-initiated call, and (2) usual care (n = 133), i.e. multiple-session counselling using Motivational Interviewing (MI). The primary outcome was a downward change in AUDIT risk-zone between baseline and 6-months follow-up. The analysis followed an intention-to-treat approach. <br><br>RESULTS: Recruitment ended in December 2017. At 6-months follow-up, 70% of the enrolled participants had data on the outcome. In the brief, structured intervention (n = 107) 68% changed to a lower risk-level, compared to 61% in the usual care group (n = 117), yielding a risk ratio (RR) of 1.12 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.37) and risk difference of 0.08 (95% CI -0.05 to 0.20). The total AUDIT score and the scores from the AUDIT consumption questions (AUDIT-C) did not reveal any between-group differences in the mean change at follow-up. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The counselling at the Swedish National Alcohol Helpline was followed by a significant decrease in alcohol use among clients, without clear superiority for either counselling model. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was retrospectively registered with ISRCNT.com (ID: ISRCTN13160878 ) 18/01/2016.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-244X",
doi="10.1186/s12888-019-2199-z",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2199-z"
}