Testing Delivery Channels of Brief Motivational Alcohol Intervention

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Hazardous Drinking
• Interventions: Behavioral: Personal Counseling; Behavioral: Computer-generated feedback letters

• Registration Number: NCT01291693
• Lead Sponsor: University Medicine Greifswald

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate whether motivation-tailored alcohol interventions are more effective when delivered by person or by computer-generated feedback letters. A sample of 920 general hospital inpatients with risky drinking will be recruited through a computerized screening procedure. Patients with more severe alcohol problems will be excluded from the study. Participants will be allocated by time frame randomization to one of three study arms: (1) personal counseling based on Motivational Interviewing, (2) computer-expert system intervention that generates individualized feedback-letters, and (3) control group (treatment-as-usual). The interventions differ in their channel of delivery, but not regarding their content. Both intervention groups receive interventions at three time points: directly after the baseline-assessment at the general hospital, and 1 and 3 months later by mail and phone, respectively. Outcome will be assessed six, 12, 18 and 24 months after baseline.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2011-02
• Study First Submitted: 2011-02-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-02-07
• Study First Posted: 2011-02-08
• Primary Completion: 2014-11
• Study Completion: 2014-11
• Status Verified: 2015-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-12-01
• Last Update Posted: 2015-12-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 975

Inclusion Criteria

• General hospital inpatients with risky drinking (AUDIT-C >= 4/5 (women/men) and AUDIT < 20)

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients already recruited during an earlier hospital stay
• Patients physically and mentally not capable of participating in the study
• Patients with a hospital stay of less than 24 hours
• Patients with insufficient language/ reading skills
• Patients employed at one of the departments participating in the study or conducting the study
• Patients with more severe alcohol problems (AUDIT >= 20)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Personal counseling	Personal Counseling	-
Computer generated feedback letters	Computer-generated feedback letters	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Risky drinking	6, 12, 18, 24 months	Determined by using average alcohol consumption per day, heavy occasional drinking, highest blood alcohol concentration, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) score

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Motivation to reduce drinking	6, 12, 18, 24 months	Assessed by a stages of change-algorithm
Attempts to reduce drinking	6, 12, 18, 24 months
Knowledge about drinking limits	6, 12, 18, 24 months
Self-efficacy scores	6 months	Assessed by a modified short-form of the Alcohol-Abstinence-Self-Efficacy-Scale (AASE). The modified form assesses self-efficacy regarding compliance with drinking limits.
Decisional balance scores	6 months	Assessed by a short form of the Alcohol Decisional Balance Scale (ADBS)
Self-rated health	6, 12, 18, 24 months
Health care utilization	6, 12, 18, 24 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald; 🇩🇪 Greifswald, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany