Publication: Screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use among hospital outpatients in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial
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Issued Date
2013
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eng
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Public Health. Vol.13, (2013), 644
Suggested Citation
Supa Pengpid, Peltzer, Karl, Skaal, Linda, Hendry Van der Heever Screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use among hospital outpatients in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. Vol.13, (2013), 644. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/3135
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Title
Screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol use among hospital outpatients in South Africa: results from a randomized controlled trial
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Abstract
Background: High prevalence rates of hazardous and harmful alcohol use have been found in a hospital
outpatient setting in South Africa. Hospital settings are a particularly valuable point of contact for the delivery of
brief interventions because of the large access to patient populations each year. With this in mind, the primary
purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to provide screening for alcohol misuse and to test the effectiveness
of brief interventions in reducing alcohol intake among hospital outpatients in South Africa.
Methods: The study design for this effectiveness study is a randomized controlled trial with 6- and 12-month
follow-ups to examine the effects of a brief alcohol intervention to reduce alcohol use by hazardous or harmful
drinkers in a hospital setting. Outpatients were screened for alcohol problems, and those identified as hazardous or
harmful drinkers were randomized into an experimental or control group. The experimental group received one
brief counselling session on alcohol risk reduction, while the control group received a health education leaflet.
Results: Of the 1419 screened for alcohol misuse who agreed to participate in the trial 392 (27.6%) screened
positive for hazardous or harmful use on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) (score 7/8-19) and 51
(3.6%) had an AUDIT score of 20 or more. Among the 282 (72%) hospital outpatients who also attended the
12-month follow-up session, the time effects on the AUDIT scores were significant [F (1,195 = 7.72), P < 0.01]
but the intervention effect on the AUDIT score was statistically not significant [F (1,194 = 0.06), P < 0.804].
Conclusion: Given the lack of difference in outcome between control and intervention group, alcohol screening
and the provision of an alcohol health education leaflet may in itself cause reduction in drinking.