Effectiveness of telephone follow-up and counseling in aftercare for alcoholism

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of telephone follow-up and counseling for alcoholism outpatients on abstinence, readmission, alcohol consumption, addiction severity and adjustment at three months follow-up. A quasi-experimental pre-post control group design was used. Subjects were recruited from a psychiatric center from March to September 2001 by purposive sampling. 34 cases were studied in each of an experimental and a control group. The structured instruments included an Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and a Progress Evaluation Scale (PES). Data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square, and generalized estimating equation regression analyses. Abstinence rate (p <.05) and adjustment (p <.05) at three months post-discharge were significantly increased in the experimental group. Addiction severity (p <.001) and readmission rate (p <.05) were significantly decreased, whereas decrease in alcohol consumption was not significant. These results showed that the telephone follow-up intervention contributed to better outcomes and demonstrated the importance of aftercare for alcoholism. It is suggested that developing a rehabilitation treatment program should enhance abstinence for alcoholism.