Randomized trial of brief office-based interventions to reduce adolescent alcohol use.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether office-based interventions change adolescents' alcohol beliefs and alcohol use.


METHODS
Randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Five managed care group practices in Washington, DC.


METHODS
Consecutive 12- to 17-year-olds (N = 409) seeing primary care providers (N = 26) for general check-ups. Most of the adolescents (79%) were African American, 44% were male, and 16% currently drank.


METHODS
Usual care (Group I), adolescent priming with alcohol self-assessment just prior to check-up (Group II), adolescent priming and provider prompting with adolescent self-assessment and brochure (Group III).


METHODS
Adolescent alcohol beliefs at exit interview and self-reported behaviors at 6- and 12-month follow-up.


RESULTS
At exit interview, Groups II and III reported that less alcohol was needed for impaired thinking and a greater intent to drink alcohol in the next 3 months than Group I. At 6 months, Group III reported more resistance to peer pressure to drink, and Groups II and III reported more bingeing than Group I. At 1-year follow-up, controlling for baseline levels, Groups II (odds ratio [OR], 3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-6.24) and III (OR, 2.86; CI, 1.13-7.26) reported more bingeing in the last 3 months than Group I. Group II reported more drinking in the last 30 days (OR, 2.31; CI, 1.31-4.07) and in the last 3 months (OR, 1.76; CI, 1.12-2.77) than Group I.


CONCLUSIONS
Brief office-based interventions were ineffective in reducing adolescent alcohol use but may increase adolescent reporting of alcohol use.
Boekeloo
Bradley O
BO
Department of Public and Community Health, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. bb153@umail.umd.edu
Jerry
Judith
J
Lee-Ougo
Wilhelmena I
WI
Worrell
Kevin D
KD
Hamburger
Ellen K
EK
Russek-Cohen
Estelle
E
Snyder
Mark H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009819:Office Visits; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires