title: Brief alcohol intervention by newly trained workers versus leaflets: comparison of effect in older heavy drinkers identified in a population health examination survey: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test if a brief motivational intervention (BMI) in a non-treatment seeking population of heavy drinkers results in a reduced alcohol intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening of 12,364 participants in a Danish health examination survey led to 1026 heavy drinkers of whom 772 were included and randomized to a BMI group (n = 391) or a control group (n = 381) receiving two leaflets about alcohol. Follow-up took place after 6 and 12 months including 670 and 616 participants respectively. The outcome measure was self-reported weekly alcohol consumption. Data were analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. We used the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity 3.0 code (MITI) as a quality control of the interventions delivered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention effect of the BMI was -1.0 drinks/week, but the effect was not significant. The MITI analysis showed that the quality of the BMI delivered was sub-optimal, as only one of four aspects was above the recommended level for beginning proficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no effect of a BMI in reducing alcohol consumption. The generalizability of the study is questionable, as individuals with the lowest level of education, low income and unmarried individuals are under-represented.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark. ago@niph.dk
authors.forename: Anders B Gottlieb
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Anette Søgaard
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grønbaek
authors.forename: Janne Schurmann
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tolstrup
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome