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 comparison of brief advice and conjoint therapy in the treatment of alcohol abuse: the results of the Marital Systems Study.
Summary The Marital Systems Study ( MSS ) compared the effectiveness of a short-term systems-based outpatient treatment consisting of eight sessions of Conjoint Therapy with a single session of Advice Counselling which also involved the spouse . Eligible couples were r and omly assigned to either Conjoint Therapy or Advice Counselling . In all , 218 couples were recruited for the Study . From this initial sample , 102 couples dropped out of treatment or follow-up leaving the remaining 116 couples as the Study sample . Couples in both Advice Counselling and Conjoint Therapy showed significant improvement on all marital adjustment and drinking-related outcome measures . Although significant treatment-by-time interactions were found on three of the nine variables , there were no significant differences in the change pattern between the groups on the principal drinking outcome measure , the percentage of heavy drinking days . There were also no significant between-group differences on any of the outcome measures . In essence , a single session of Advice Counselling was as effective as eight sessions of Conjoint Therapy . Couples completing the Study represented a socially stable group , with a moderate degree of alcohol-related difficulties and relatively non-distressed marital relationships . Thus , the findings pertaining to the relative effectiveness of the two treatments may be limited to this specific client population
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 .