A Brief Alcohol Intervention for Incarcerated Women

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of a brief motivational intervention for alcohol use in incarcerated women.

Detailed Description
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Hazardous alcohol use continues to be a problem of major significance throughout the United States. Alcohol use is a prevalent condition that independently acts as an important behavioral cofactor for HIV infection in women, contributing to both sexual and drug risk. The rationale for a brief intervention with incarcerated women who hazardously use alcohol and have HIV risk behaviors is compelling. For such women, we believe that the negative effects of drinking may be increased. An intervention that successfully connects alcohol use with HIV risk behaviors may be sufficient to tip the decisional balance in favor of reducing risk-prone alcohol consumption. If alcohol consumption is reduced more generally in a person's life, this may improve judgment in pursuing behaviors which risk other negative consequences. Hazardous alcohol, and high-risk drug and sexual activities may be manifestations of a general behavior pattern among incarcerated women, and strategies that engage such individuals are needed. Given the strong association between hazardous alcohol use and high HIV risk sexual and drug activities, interventions that attempt to lower the prevalence of HIV drug and sexual risk activities by lowering alcohol consumption are well justified. Brief alcohol interventions have been efficacious in reducing alcohol use across many populations over the past decade. Comparison(s): Participants are assigned, in this 6 month study, to an assessment-only condition or an assessment plus motivational interview condition. Two motivational interview sessions are conducted during the first month of study participation.

Official Title
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A Brief Alcohol Intervention for Incarcerated Women

Conditions
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Alcohol Use, Incarceration

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: motivational interviewing


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: incarcerated women current hazardous drinking current HIV risk behavior Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: 1) assessment plus motivational interview<br>Participants are assigned, in this 6 month study, to an assessment-only condition or an assessment plus motivational interview condition. Two motivational interview sessions are conducted during the first month of study participation. | Behavioral: motivational interviewing<br>* Assessment plus motivational interview condition -- two motivational interview sessions are conducted during the first month of this six month study participation.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| alcohol use |  | 6 months | 
| HIV risk taking |  | 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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women, incarceration, alcohol use, motivational interviewing