title: Assessing feasibility and acceptability of a brief intervention for risky alcohol consumption in sexual health clinic attendees: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and acceptability of screening attendees at a sexual health clinic (SHC) for alcohol misuse, and delivering a brief intervention (BI). To explore the effect of this BI on drinking and sexual behaviour.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive sample of consenting SHC attendees aged ≥16 years were screened using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT-C). Men scoring ≥5 and women scoring ≥4 were invited to complete the full AUDIT, alcohol diary and baseline questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomised to receive BI by a trained sexual health professional or a standard alcohol leaflet (usual care, UC). All were followed up for changes in alcohol and sexual behaviour at 6 weeks and 6 months. A fidelity check and staff focus group were undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 664 participants screened, 215 (32%) were eligible for randomisation and 207 were included in the final analysis: 103 (BI) and 104 (UC). Follow-up rates were 54% and 47% at 6 weeks and 6 months, respectively. Both groups reduced alcohol consumption though the degree of change did not differ between them. There was some evidence of positive changes in sexual health risk in both groups. BI was delivered as intended, adding 5 minutes to the consultation, and staff feedback was positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol misuse was common in SHC attendees. Systematic assessment and BI for alcohol misuse was feasible and acceptable to staff and patients. Identification and provision of standard information alone appeared to influence drinking and sexual behaviour.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN19452424.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roderick
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Sangeetha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: S Sundaram
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Borislav D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dewhirst
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Primary Care & Population Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leydon
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sheron
authors.affiliation: South Central Strategic Health Authority, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frater
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health, Solent NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.
authors.forename: Veerakathy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Harindra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol consumption; risk assessment; sexually transmitted infections