title: Development of Australia's first older adult-specific early intervention for alcohol-related harm: Feasibility and proof of concept.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The rate of older Australians at risk of experiencing alcohol-related harm increased by 31% over the past 10 years, yet there are no Australian age-specific early interventions. We describe the development of Australia's first age-specific early intervention protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through examining effective overseas older adult-specific interventions, in addition to other relevant literature, an early intervention protocol was developed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Older Wiser Lifestyles (OWL) early intervention protocol extends protocols that have been developed overseas through providing: (i) interventions that are tailored to the person's readiness to change, including the provision of harm reduction strategies for people who are precontemplative; and (ii) individualised psychoeducational materials regarding medical conditions and medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OWL protocol has been successfully implemented in a service, and preliminary data warrant a clinical trial of the intervention. Australian health-care providers should consider the OWL protocol as a simple method to reduce the risk from alcohol consumption among older adults.
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Cylie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003071:Cognition; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006040:Goals; D040261:Harm Reduction; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D062405:Motivational Interviewing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011340:Problem Solving; D016730:Program Development; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria
keywords: adverse medication interactions; alcohol; early intervention; harm reduction