[Multicenter study on the efficacy of advice for the prevention of alcoholism in primary health care]

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse and to verify the efficacy of systematic advice for alcoholism prevention, assessing the reduction of the number in risk drinkers.

Patients and methods: A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial was designed, to perform in general practitioner setting, on a sample of risk drinkers (alcohol intake > 280 g weekly, without dependence) sent by random in intervention group (systematic brief advice with support material and a five visit program during a year) and control group (once brief advice and a control in 1 year). The procedure to incorporate in both groups included physical exam, a blood test and the MALT questionnaire. A descriptive and analytic study on included variables was realised, assessing the percentage of drinkers who reduced alcohol intake below risk limit at the end of a year follow up, as well as the reduction intake in each group.

Results: Of the 139 included males, 75 were in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. The percentage of patients not excluded by MALT > 10, and/or liver disease, that finished the 1 year follow up, was 46%, being the sample average age of 43 +/- 11.8. Patients included in both groups were initially comparable. At the end of a year follow up there were statistically significant differences in: percentage of risk drinkers who decreased alcohol intake below 280 g weekly (82% intervention group; 47% control group); percentage of reduction in GPT, GGT, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure and the MALT questionnaire.

Conclusions: The efficacy of isolated advice of general practitioner was proved to achieve the alcohol intake reduction below the risk limit accepted in male risk drinkers without alcohol dependence. The systematic follow up during a year significantly improves the results achieved with the isolated advice.