Sensitivity analysis indicates that from both perspectives the service is very cost effective and may be cost saving .
CONCLUSIONS These results make alcohol screening and counseling one of the highest-ranking preventive services among the 25 effective services evaluated using st and ardized methods .
BACKGROUND The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ( USPSTF ) has recommended screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse .
This study was design ed to develop a st and ardized rating for the clinical ly preventable burden and cost effectiveness of complying with that recommendation that would allow comparisons across many recommended services .
Brief intervention in a primary care setting for hazardous drinkers.
INTRODUCTION The study was design ed to test a brief intervention for reducing alcohol consumption among moderate to heavy ( hazardous ) drinkers in a busy HMO primary care setting . METHODS In a r and omized controlled trial , hazardous drinkers ( n = 516 ) were identified by the AUDIT screening question naire . Intervention included brief clinician advice ( 30 seconds ) , a 15-minute motivational session by counselors , and printed material s. RESULTS At six-month follow-up , intervention subjects reported fewer total st and ard drinks in the past three months ( 176 versus 216 , P = .04 , one-tailed ) and fewer drinking days per week ( 2.8 versus 3.3 , P = .02 ) than controls , but similar drinks per drinking day ( 3.3 versus 3.5 ; P = .13 ) . At 12 months , intervention subjects again reported fewer drinking days per week ( 2.7 versus 3.1 ; P = .04 ) than controls , but similar numbers of st and ard drinks ( 157 versus 179 ; P = .13 ) and drinks per drinking day ( 3.6 versus 3.3 ; P = .20 ) . Intervention subjects were somewhat more likely than controls to report drinking within daily recommended limits ( < or = 3 for men , < or = 2 for women ) at both six months ( 79 % versus 71 % ; P = .06 ) and 12 months ( 80 % versus 73 % ; P = .07 ) , but did not differ significantly from controls on other drinking outcomes ( percent abstinent , frequency of drinking > or = 6 drinks per drinking occasion , estimated peak blood alcohol concentration ) , or use of medical care in the year following intervention . CONCLUSIONS A one-time , brief motivational intervention using minimal clinician time supplemented by trained counselors result ed in a modest reduction in frequency of alcohol consumption in a busy primary care population . Future research should focus on strengthening and maintaining intervention effects
Sensitivity analysis indicates that from both perspectives the service is very cost effective and may be cost saving .
CONCLUSIONS These results make alcohol screening and counseling one of the highest-ranking preventive services among the 25 effective services evaluated using st and ardized methods .
BACKGROUND The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ( USPSTF ) has recommended screening and behavioral counseling interventions in primary care to reduce alcohol misuse .
This study was design ed to develop a st and ardized rating for the clinical ly preventable burden and cost effectiveness of complying with that recommendation that would allow comparisons across many recommended services .