A Web-based intervention used in general practice for people with excessive alcohol consumption.
Down Your Drink is a Web-based brief intervention for hazardous drinkers. We conducted a pilot study of its usefulness in general practice. Visitors to the Website were invited to complete the Fast Alcohol Screening Test and positive responders were offered a six-week interactive Web-based programme. There were 1319 registrations in the six-month study period. In all, 815 (62%) registrants completed week one, and 79 (6%) stayed with the programme until the end. Usage of the Website was distributed through the day, with the highest levels between 10:00 and 14:00. Two focus groups with general practitioners were conducted to explore the potential for using the site in primary-care settings. Website interventions for excessive drinkers therefore appear to be feasible and may prove a useful additional tool for intervention in general practice.
Linke
S
S
Department of Clinical Psychology, Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust, London, UK. s.linke@ucl.ac.uk
Harrison
R
R
Wallace
P
P
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods