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 .
A randomized controlled trial of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) for mild to moderate alcohol dependence.
OBJECTIVE This study was design ed to conduct a r and omized controlled trial of motivational enhancement therapy ( MET ) with two control conditions : nondirective reflective listening ( NDRL ) and no further counseling ( NFC ) ; and to conduct this study in a sample of patients with a primary diagnosis of mild to moderate alcohol dependence , in a " real-life " clinical setting . METHOD Patients with mild to moderate alcohol dependence were recruited , assessed and treated at the Community Alcohol and Drug Service of Christchurch , New Zeal and . All patients received a feedback/education session before r and omization to either four sessions of MET , four sessions of NDRL , or NFC . Outcome data on 122 subjects ( 57.4 % men ) were obtained 6 months following the end of treatment , by an interviewer who was blind to the treatment condition . The primary drinking outcome was unequivocal heavy drinking , defined as drinking 10 or more st and ard drinks six or more times in the follow-up period . Global assessment scale ( GAS ) measured general personal/social functioning . RESULTS Of patients treated with MET , 42.9 % showed unequivocal heavy drinking compared with 62.5 % of the NDRL and 65.0 % of the NFC groups ( p = .04 ) . No significant differences were found for GAS score according to treatment condition . CONCLUSIONS In patients with mild to moderate alcohol dependence , MET is more effective for reducing unequivocal heavy drinking than either a feedback/education session alone or four sessions of NDRL . MET can be considered an effective " value added " counseling intervention in a real-life clinical setting . In patients with mild to moderate alcohol dependence , nondirective reflective listening provides no additional advantage over a feedback/education session alone
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 .