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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Feb;67(2):263-75.
doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.09.021. Epub 2015 Nov 14.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Telephone Intervention for Alcohol Misuse With Injured Emergency Department Patients

Michael J Mello  1 , Janette Baird  2 , Christina Lee  3 , Valerie Strezsak  4 , Michael T French  5 , Richard Longabaugh  6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Telephone Intervention for Alcohol Misuse With Injured Emergency Department Patients

Michael J Mello et al. Ann Emerg Med. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Study objective: We conduct a randomized controlled trial to test efficacy of a telephone intervention for injured emergency department (ED) patients with alcohol misuse to decrease alcohol use, impaired driving, alcohol-related injuries, and alcohol-related negative consequences.

Methods: ED patients screening positive for alcohol misuse were randomized to a 3-session telephone brief motivational intervention on alcohol, delivered by a counselor trained in motivational interviewing during 6 weeks, or a control intervention of a scripted home fire and burn safety education delivered in 3 calls. Patients were followed for 12 months and assessed for changes in alcohol use, impaired driving, alcohol-related injuries, and alcohol-related negative consequences.

Results: Seven hundred thirty ED patients were randomized; 78% received their assigned intervention by telephone, and of those, 72% completed 12-month assessments. There were no differential benefits of telephone brief motivational intervention versus assessment and a control intervention in all 3 variables of alcohol use (frequency of binge alcohol use during the previous 30 days, maximum number of drinks at one time in the past 30 days, and typical alcohol use in the past 30 days), alcohol-impaired driving, alcohol-related injuries, and alcohol-related negative consequences.

Conclusion: Despite the potential advantage of delivering a telephone brief motivational intervention in not disrupting ED clinical care, our study found no efficacy for it over an assessment and control intervention. Potential causes for our finding include that injury itself, alcohol assessments, or the control intervention had active ingredients for alcohol change.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01326169.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to report

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram of participants’ recruitment, enrollment, allocation and retention
Figure 2
Figure 2
Three Variables of Participant Alcohol Use at Baseline, 4, 8 and 12 Month
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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