title: The effect of brief interventions on alcohol consumption among heavy drinkers in a general hospital setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (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.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three-arm cluster randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven general medical, six general surgical, one dermatology and two otolaryngology wards of a large teaching hospital covering a large urban and rural area.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. aisha.holloway@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Aisha S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: Hazel E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Antony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.forename: Angus K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: McFadyen
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntosh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016896:Treatment Outcome