Two visits cut injured drinkers' alcohol problems; one visit did not

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   539 injured adults took part at one emergency room in Providence, Rhode Island. 447 of them answered questions again one year later. Most were men, and their average age was 27.

2. 02

   What they did

   Some patients got usual emergency care only. Others had a talk of 40 to 60 minutes about their drinking. Some of those also had a second visit 7 to 10 days later.

3. 03

   What happened

   Patients who had the talk and the second visit reported fewer problems from drinking at one year than usual-care patients. Alcohol-related injuries fell by 36% in that group, against 6% with usual care. The talk alone did not beat usual care on either measure, and heavy-drinking days fell in all three groups alike.

What the study found

1. HelpedOther outcomes

   A brief talk plus a second visit cut problems from drinking more than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 447 injured adults with risky drinking · vs patients who got usual care in the emergency room · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

2. No differenceOther outcomes

   A brief talk alone did not cut problems from drinking more than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 447 injured adults with risky drinking · vs patients who got usual care in the emergency room · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   A talk plus a second visit cut injuries from drinking more than usual care. The talk alone did not.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 447 injured adults with risky drinking · vs patients who got usual care in the emergency room · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

4. No differenceGoals

   Heavy-drinking days fell in all three groups, and the talks did not cut them more than usual care did.

   • Action: Learn how the problem workstested
   • Action: Talk through your mixed feelings about changingtested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Randomised trial of 447 injured adults with risky drinking · vs patients who got usual care in the emergency room · they rated themselves · ⚠ only counted people who finished

Source