@article{ref1,
title="The effect of brief interventions on alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers in a general hospital setting",
journal="Addiction",
year="2007",
author="Holloway, Aisha S. and Watson, Hazel E. and Arthur, A. J. and Starr, George and McFadyen, Angus K. and McIntosh, James",
volume="102",
number="11",
pages="1762-1770",
abstract="Aims (i) To evaluate the effect of receiving one of two brief interventions in reducing alcohol consumption among general hospital patients compared with usual care. (ii) To assess whether a brief intervention of self-efficacy enhancement was superior to a self-help booklet in reducing alcohol consumption. Design A three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial. Setting Seven general medical, six general surgical, one dermatology and two otolaryngology wards of a large teaching hospital covering a large urban and rural area. Participants A total of 215 of 789 in-patients aged 18-75 years, who screened positive for alcohol consumption in excess of national recommended limits according to a 7-day retrospective drinking diary. Interventions Participants were allocated to receive one of three interventions: (i) face-to-face self-efficacy enhancement; (ii) a self-help booklet; or (iii) usual care. Measurements The primary outcome measure was change in reported alcohol consumption at 6-month follow-up as measured by a 7-day retrospective drinking diary. Secondary outcomes were change in: number of alcohol drinking days in last week; the maximum units of alcohol consumed on any one day in last week; and Drinking Refusal Self-efficacy Expectancy Questionnaire score. Findings Compared to the usual care group the self-efficacy enhancement group (-10.1 units 95% CI -16.1 to -4.1) and the self-help booklet group (-10.0 units 95% CI -16.0 to -3.9) had greater reductions in self-reported weekly alcohol consumption. There was no evidence that self-efficacy enhancement was superior to the self-help booklet (P = 0.96). Conclusions Brief interventions delivered in hospital offer simple means of helping heavy drinkers to reduce their alcohol consumption.  <p></p>  <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0965-2140",
doi="10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01968.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01968.x"
}