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 physician and nurse practitioner-delivered counseling for high-risk drinking
BACKGROUND : The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a brief primary care provider-delivered counseling intervention on the reduction of alcohol consumption by high-risk drinkers . The intervention was implemented as part of routine primary care medical practice . METHODS : We performed a controlled clinical trial with 6- and 12-month follow-up . Three primary care practice s affiliated with an academic medical center were r and omly assigned to special intervention ( SI ) or usual care ( UC ) . A total of 9,772 primary care patients were screened for high-risk drinking . A fourth site was added later . From the group that was screened , 530 high-risk drinkers entered into the study , with 447 providing follow-up at 12 months . The intervention consisted of brief ( 5–10 minute ) patient-centered counseling plus an office system that cued providers to intervene and provided patient educational material s. RESULTS : At 12-month follow-up , after controlling for baseline differences in alcohol consumption , SI participants had significantly larger changes ( P=.03 ) in weekly alcohol intake compared to UC ( SI=−5.7 drinks per week ; UC=−3.1 drinks per week ) , and of those who changed to safe drinking at 6 months more SI participants maintained that change at 12 months than UC . CONCLUSIONS : Project Health provides evidence that screening and very brief ( 5–10 minute ) advice and counseling delivered by a patient ’s personal physician or nurse practitioner as a routine part of a primary care visit can reduce alcohol consumption by high-risk drinkers
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 .