Screening and brief intervention for hazardous drinking in an HMO: effects on medical care utilization.
This study examined whether a brief intervention to reduce hazardous alcohol consumption among primary care patients reduced use of medical care. In a parent, randomized controlled trial, at-risk drinkers identified in HMO outpatient waiting rooms were randomly assigned to receive usual care or brief clinician advice plus a 15-minute motivational counseling session. The current study (n = 514) examined the groups' use of outpatient and inpatient medical services during two years after intervention. Although the intervention reduced alcohol consumption at six-month follow-up, intervention and control groups made similar numbers of outpatient visits (M = 17.7 vs. 18.3, respectively; p = .47), were equally likely to be hospitalized (21.2% vs. 22.0%; p = .81), and among those hospitalized, had similar lengths of stay (4.7 vs. 6.6 days; p = .37). Although brief interventions to reduce hazardous drinking may potentially reduce medical care utilization, more evidence is needed to substantiate their practicality and cost-effectiveness.
Freeborn
D K
DK
Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR 97227, USA. Don.Freeborn@kp.org
Polen
M R
MR
Hollis
J F
JF
Senft
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009922:Oregon; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic