title: Readiness to Change and to Accept Help and Drinking Outcomes in Young Adults of Mexican Origin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess whether readiness to change drinking (RCD) and readiness to accept help (RAH) improve short- and longer term drinking outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a randomized controlled trial of screening and brief intervention (SBI) conducted in a U.S. emergency department at the U.S.-Mexico border are reported. A total of 620 at-risk and dependent Mexican-origin drinkers (56% male), ages 18-30, received either an assessment only or intervention (SBI). Drinking outcomes included drinking days per week, average and maximum drinks per drinking day, heavy drinking (5+ drinks) days per week, and negative consequences. Random effects longitudinal models predicted baseline, 3-month, and 12-month drinking outcomes from baseline RCD and RAH. Models tested if (a) outcomes were significantly reduced at follow-ups and (b) differential reduction occurred by RCD, RAH, and post-intervention changes in readiness among those receiving SBI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both study groups, outcomes improved from baseline to each follow-up across RCD and RAH status. RCD was not associated with differential improvement in outcomes for either group. In the SBI group, those RAH reported larger reductions at 3 months in average and maximum quantity than those not RAH but did not differ from those not RAH at 12-month outcomes. Among the SBI group, changing from not ready to ready (RTC or RAH) post-intervention was not associated with greater reductions in drinking compared with remaining not ready or ready post-intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baseline RCD is not associated with drinking outcomes. Baseline RAH may facilitate greater reductions in drinking for those receiving SBI and should be further examined as a possible mediator of SBI effects for young adults of Mexican origin.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, California.
authors.forename: Madhabika B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, California.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.affiliation: Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, California.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, California.
authors.forename: Cheryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cherpitel
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woolard
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.|Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.|Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villalobos
authors.affiliation: Alliance of Border Collaboratives, El Paso, Texas.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult