title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Intervention by Interactive Voice Response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) brief intervention (BI) to reduce alcohol consumption among adults seeking primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (N = 1855) with unhealthy drinking were recruited from eight academic internal medicine and family medicine clinics and randomized to IVR-BI (n = 938) versus No IVR-BI control (n = 917). Daily alcohol consumption was assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months using the Timeline Followback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IVR-BI was completed by 95% of the 938 patients randomized to that condition, and 62% of them indicated a willingness to consider a change in their drinking. Participants in both conditions significantly reduced consumption over time, but changes were not different between groups. Regardless of condition, participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed significant decreases in drinking outcomes. No significant changes were observed in patients without AUD, regardless of condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the IVR intervention was well accepted by patients, there was no evidence that IVR-BI was superior to No IVR-BI for reducing drinking in the subsequent 6 months. Because both the design and the intervention tested were novel, we cannot say definitively why this particular eHealth treatment lacked efficacy. It could be useful to evaluate the effect of the pre-randomization assessment alone on change in drinking. The high treatment engagement rate and successful implementation protocol are strengths, and can be adopted for future trials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the efficacy of a novel BI for patient self-administration by automated telephone. Alcohol consumption decreased over time but there were no between-group changes in consumption. Regardless of treatment condition, participants with alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed significant reduction in drinking but participants without AUD showed no change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Vermont, USA.
authors.forename: Gail L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biostatistics, The University of Vermont, 27 Hills Building, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biostatistics, The University of Vermont, 27 Hills Building, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Skelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Vermont, College of Medicine, 4S Given Courtyard, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Administrative Services, Harvard University, USA.
authors.forename: Tonya A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Vermont, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Helzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000075782:Cell Phone Use; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult