Brief Interventions in General Hospital (BIG)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Alcohol abuse is a widespread concern internationally with a significant threat to world health. Research suggests a relationship between heavy drinking and certain clinical presentations such as injuries, physical and psychiatric illnesses and frequent sickness absence from employment. This research aims to establish whether brief interventions delivered to harmful and hazardous alcohol drinkers admitted to hospital impacts of their alcohol consumption levels on discharge from hospital.

Detailed Description
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Purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of brief interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol abusers admitted to medical and surgical wards at the Southern General Hospital Evidence for brief interventions in general hospital Further research is required to prove the benefits of brief interventions within general hospital, based on evidence from the Cochrane systematic review 'Brief interventions for heavy alcohol users admitted to general hospital wards' (McQueen et al 2009). Links with national and international agendas The European Health Target12 supports a reduction in harm from alcohol drugs and tobacco. By the year 2015 the adverse health effects from the consumption of addictive substances such as alcohol should be reduced by all member states (European Health for all targets 1998) The Scottish government has set HEAT (Health improvement, efficacy and governance access and treatment) target for the NHS to deliver 149,449 alcohol brief intervention cumulatively over the period of 2008/9-2010/11 (Scottish Alcohol and Drugs Workforce 2008). Research Design This study will employ a randomised control trial design. The primary outcome measure will be grams of alcohol consumed per week, measures will be taken at baseline, six months and one year post intervention. Secondary outcomes will consist of brief intervention's impact on hospital re-admission rates, attendance at A&E and mortality rates.

Official Title
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Brief Interventions for Heavy Alcohol Users Admitted to General Hospital

Conditions
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Alcoholism

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Brief intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Scores between 3-12 on FAST Admitted to hospital Speaks english Exclusion Criteria: Under 18 years Cognitively impaired Medically Unfit

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Behavioral: Brief intervention|20 minute one to one counseling session|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alcohol consumption in units |  | 6 months and one year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hospital readmissions |  | one year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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alcohol, brief interventions, counseling, harmful/hazardous alcohol drinkers