Effectiveness of Workplace Intervention for Reducing Alcohol Consumption: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Universal alcohol prevention in the workplaces - does it matter?

BackgroundHarmful alcohol consumption has significant negative implications for the workplace. The workplace offers a strategic opportunity for alcohol prevention due to the substantial time employees spend at work.ObjectiveUtilizing a social-ecological framework, this study aims to investigate whether universal alcohol prevention strategies in the workplace are associated with employees' alcohol-related perceptions or behaviorsMethodsA cross-sectional survey study was conducted in December 2019 using a web-based questionnaire distributed through the Laboratory of Opinion Research Citizen Panel. Participants included 2771 employed adults aged 16-80 in Sweden. Multiple- and logistic regressions were used to investigate significant explanatory factors.ResultsHaving alcohol procedures, as well as having received information from a supervisor regarding how to act on concerns, were associated with a higher probability of being comfortable informing a supervisor of concerns. A restrictive alcohol culture was associated with lower threshold for perceived risk-free alcohol consumption. Having an alcohol policy only was not associated with any of the examined alcohol-related perceptions or behaviors when controlling for other factors.ConclusionsAlcohol preventive measures can significantly influence employee perceptions of responsibility to act on concerns, and the feeling of being comfortable doing so. The findings support the integration of alcohol preventive measures at multiple levels within the workplace, as well as having a restrictive alcohol culture.

Effectiveness of Providing Educational Leaflet after Screening on Hazardous and Harmful Alcohol Use in the Workplace: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Despite evidence regarding the effectiveness of screening and brief interventions for excessive alcohol consumption, these interventions are not widely used. Although several studies have suggested that face-to-face interventions in the workplace may be effective, developing an implementable intervention strategy for alcohol users, including light drinkers, is warranted. This study aimed to develop a study protocol to evaluate the effect of providing an educational leaflet at the workplace on reducing hazardous or harmful alcohol use.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial involving employees (aged ≥ 20 years) of a local administrative office in Japan who were screened using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is ongoing. Participants were randomized into "Educational leaflet" and "Control (no intervention)" groups. The primary outcome was the difference in negative status on the AUDIT (proportion of participants scoring < 8 points on the AUDIT) between the intervention and control groups in the following year. For the secondary outcomes, laboratory marker data at annual health checkups were collected and assessed.

Results

A total of 400 participants were randomized into educational leaflet (n = 200) and control (n = 200) groups. The basic characteristics of all participants included sex (men 79.3%; women 20.8%), mean (standard deviation) of age 48.5 (9.7 years), 40.0% of AUDIT ≥ 8 points, 46.8% of drinking alcohol ≥ 4 times a week, and 33.8% of heavy episodic drinking. No significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in terms of the baseline variables.

Conclusions

This study protocol developed the first trial in Japan to investigate the impact of providing an educational leaflet after screening for hazardous and harmful alcohol use in a workplace setting. The findings of this study can provide the first evidence that an implementable alcohol intervention strategy targeting alcohol users, including light drinkers in the workplace, is effective in reducing hazardous or harmful alcohol use.

Interventions in the workplace to reduce risk factors for noncommunicable diseases: an umbrella review of systematic reviews of effectiveness

BACKGROUND

Workplaces are an important setting to deliver programs to reduce risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). To help decision makers understand the most current and relevant evidence regarding effectiveness of workplace programs, we conducted an umbrella review to present a comprehensive synthesis of the large volume of literature.

METHODS

Systematic reviews of workplace interventions targeting primary risk factors for NCDs-unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, and/or excessive alcohol use-published since 2010 were sourced. For each risk factor, reviews were categorized by intervention type and quality. The most recent, high-quality review was included for each intervention type. Evidence for the effectiveness of each intervention type was then broadly classified based on the review summary findings.

RESULTS

Twenty-one reviews were included. Most reviews focused on diet (n = 5), physical activity (n = 7), or obesity (n = 9) interventions, with fewer targeting alcohol (n = 2) or tobacco (n = 2) use. Reviews of interventions focusing on individual behavior (such as education or counseling) were most common. Across diet, obesity, physical activity, and tobacco use, multicomponent interventions were consistently likely to be classified as "likely effective." Motivational interviewing and broad health promotion interventions were identified as "promising" for alcohol use.

CONCLUSION

This umbrella review identified that multicomponent workplace interventions were effective to reduce NCD risk factors. There is a gap around interventions targeting alcohol use as most syntheses lacked enough studies to draw conclusions about effectiveness. Exploring the impact of interventions that utilize policy and/or environmental strategies is a critical gap for future research.

The effectiveness of workplace interventions for the prevention of alcohol use: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous research has pointed to the potential of workplace interventions addressing alcohol consumption. However, there is still no systematic overview of the effects of these interventions. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the effectiveness of workplace interventions addressing alcohol use by conducting a meta-analysis.

METHODS

A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials of workplace alcohol interventions published between 1995 and 2020 was conducted in five databases. Studies were included if they were performed in the workplace and reported universal or selective interventions aiming for alcohol use reduction. Primary outcomes were any measures of alcohol use. Standardized mean effect sizes were used to calculate the meta-analytic random-effects-model. Additional analyses were carried out to identify potential moderators and to examine the amount of heterogeneity and publication bias.

RESULTS

Twenty studies with 4484 participants were integrated into the meta-analysis. Results revealed a significant overall mean effect indicating a reduction of alcohol use in favor of the treatment group (d = -0.16, 95% CI = [-0.2715; -0.0511]). Heterogeneity within the data structure was found to be moderate to substantial (I2  = 75.9%, Q-test P < 0.001, τ2 = 0.0375). Additional moderator analyses only showed a significant effect for length of measurement period (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol-related prevention programs conducted in the workplace have a statistically significant and favorable effect on alcohol consumption. Although the overall mean effect is considered to be small, it underlines the effectiveness of workplace interventions targeting a reduction in alcohol use.

Alcohol-Tolerant Workplace Environments Are a Risk Factor for Young Adult Alcohol Misuse on and off the Job in Australia and the United States

The workplace has been understudied as a setting for the prevention of young adult alcohol misuse. This study examined if alcohol-tolerant workplace environments are associated with greater risk for alcohol use and misuse on and off the job among young adults. Data were collected in 2014 from state-representative, sex-balanced samples (51% female) of 25-year-olds in Washington, U.S. (n = 751) and Victoria, Australia (n = 777). Logistic regressions indicated that availability of alcohol at work, absence of a written alcohol policy, and alcohol-tolerant workplace norms and attitudes were independently associated with a 1.5 to 3 times greater odds of on-the-job alcohol use or impairment. Alcohol-tolerant workplace norms were associated also with greater odds of high-risk drinking generally, independent of on-the-job alcohol use or impairment. Associations were mostly similar in Washington and Victoria, although young adults in Victoria perceived their workplaces to be more alcohol-tolerant and were more likely to use alcohol or be impaired at work and to misuse alcohol generally than young adults in Washington. Cross-nationally, workplace interventions that restrict the availability of alcohol, ban alcohol at work, and reduce alcohol-tolerant norms have the potential to prevent and reduce young adults' alcohol use and misuse on and off the job.

Effects of a multi-component alcohol prevention program in the workplace on hazardous alcohol use among employees

BACKGROUND

The workplace can be affected negatively by hazardous alcohol use, and intervening at an early stage remains a challenge. Recently, a multi-component alcohol prevention program, Alcohol Policy and Managers' skills Training (hereafter, 'APMaT'), was delivered at the organizational level. In a previous outcome evaluation, APMaT appeared to be effective at the managerial level. The current study takes a step further by aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of APMaT in decreasing the alcohol risk level among employees.

METHODS

Data from 853 employees (control: n = 586; intervention: n = 267) were gathered through a cluster-randomized study. To analyze changes in the odds of hazardous alcohol use among employees, multilevel logistic regression was applied using group (control vs. intervention), time (baseline vs. 12-month follow-up), and the multiplicative interaction term (group × time) as the main predictors. The intervention effect was further adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and policy awareness.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was observed in the odds of hazardous alcohol use, although employees in the intervention group showed a larger decrease compared to the control group. This remained even after adjusting for several factors, including the sociodemographic factors and policy awareness.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of APMaT at the employee level at the current stage of the evaluation. Future studies should strive to identify issues with implementation processes in workplace-based alcohol interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was retrospectively registered on 11/10/2019; ISCRTN ID: ISRCTN17250048.

Which interventions for alcohol use should be included in a universal healthcare benefit package? An umbrella review of targeted interventions to address harmful drinking and dependence

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify targeted interventions for the prevention and treatment of harmful alcohol use. Umbrella review methodology was used to summarise the effectiveness across a broad range of interventions, in order to identify which interventions should be considered for inclusion within universal health coverage schemes in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We included systematic reviews with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on targeted interventions addressing alcohol use in harmful drinkers or individuals with alcohol use disorder. We only included outcomes related to alcohol consumption, heavy drinking, binge drinking, abstinence, or alcohol-attributable accident, injury, morbidity or mortality. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the International HTA Database were searched from inception to 3 September 2021. Risk of bias of reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR2 tool. After reviewing the abstracts of 9,167 articles, results were summarised narratively and certainty in the body of evidence for each intervention was assessed using GRADE. In total, 86 studies met the inclusion criteria, of which the majority reported outcomes for brief intervention (30 studies) or pharmacological interventions (29 studies). Overall, methodological quality of included studies was low.

CONCLUSIONS

For harmful drinking, brief interventions, cognitive behavioural therapy, and motivational interviewing showed a small effect, whereas mentoring in adolescents and children may have a significant long-term effect. For alcohol use disorder, social network approaches and acamprosate showed evidence of a significant and durable effect. More evidence is required on the effectiveness of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), nalmefene, and quetiapine, as well as optimal combinations of pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. As an umbrella review, we were unable to identify the extent to which variation between studies stemmed from differences in intervention delivery or variation between country contexts. Further research is required on applicability of findings across settings and best practice for implementation. Funded by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, grant number 61-00-1812.

What do we know about alcohol internet interventions aimed at employees?-A scoping review

Background

Internet interventions are a promising avenue for delivering alcohol prevention to employees. The objective of this scoping review was to map all research on alcohol internet interventions aimed at employees regardless of design, to gain an overview of current evidence and identify potential knowledge gaps.

Methods

We conducted a literature search in three data bases (PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science). Eligibility criteria were that (1) the study targeted employees age ≥18 years; (2) the intervention was delivered predominantly online; (3) the study focused specifically or in part on alcohol use; and (4) the study was published in English in a peer-reviewed academic journal. Two reviewers independently screened, reviewed, and extracted data.

Results

Twenty studies were included, of which 10 were randomized controlled trials, five were secondary analyses, three were feasibility trials, one was a cohort study and one described the rationale and development of an intervention. No qualitative studies were found. Randomized trials tended to show effects when interventions were compared to waitlists but not when more intensive interventions were compared to less intensive ones. We identified two design-related aspects where studies differed; (1) whether all applicants were included regardless of alcohol use level and (2) whether the intervention was explicitly framed as alcohol-focused or not. Significant recruitment problems were noted in several studies.

Conclusions

Alcohol internet interventions hold promise in delivering alcohol prevention to employees, but heterogeneity in study design and difficulties in recruitment complicate interpretation of findings.

Systematic review registration

https://osf.io/25x7e/, Open Science Framework.

Practitioner and digitally delivered interventions for reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption in people not seeking alcohol treatment: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

AIM

To compare the effectiveness of practitioner versus digitally delivered interventions for reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption.

DESIGN

Systematic review and network meta-analysis comprising comprehensive search for randomised controlled trials, robust screening and selection methods and appraisal with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Network meta-analyses were conducted in Stata using random effects, frequentist models. The confidence in network meta-analysis (CINeMA) tool was used to assess confidence in effect sizes.

SETTING

Online or community or health settings where the intervention was immediately accessible without referral.

PARTICIPANTS

Non treatment-seeking hazardous or harmful drinkers.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was mean difference in alcohol consumption (g/wk); secondary outcome was number of single high intensity drinking episodes. Baseline consumption was analysed as a covariate.

FINDINGS

Of 201 included trials (94 753 participants), 152 reported a consumption outcome that could be converted to grams/week; 104 reported number of single high intensity drinking episodes. At 1 and 6 months, practitioner delivered interventions reduced consumption more than digitally delivered interventions (1 month: -23 g/wk (95% CI, -43 to -2); 6 months: -14 g/wk [95% CI, -25 to -3]). At 12 months there was no evidence of difference between practitioner and digitally delivered interventions (-6 g/wk [95% CI, -24 to 12]). There was no evidence of a difference in single high intensity drinking episodes between practitioner and digitally delivered interventions at any time point. Effect sizes were small, but could impact across a population with relatively high prevalence of hazardous and harmful drinking. Heterogeneity was a concern. Some inconsistency was indicated at 1 and 6 months, but little evidence was apparent at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Practitioner delivered interventions for reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption are more effective than digitally delivered interventions up to 6 months; at 12 months there is no evidence of a difference.

Are workplace factors associated with employee alcohol use? The WIRUS cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

Sociodemographic predictors of employee alcohol use are well established in the literature, but knowledge about associations between workplace factors and alcohol use is less explored. The aim of this study was to explore whether workplace factors were associated with employee alcohol use (consumption and alcohol-related problems).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. Linear and binary logistic regression analyses.

SETTING

Heterogeneous sample of employees (workers and supervisors) from 22 companies across geographical locations and work divisions in Norway.

PARTICIPANTS

Employees (N=5388) responded on survey items measuring workplace factors and alcohol use.

OUTCOMES

Data on alcohol use were collected with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Consumption was measured with the AUDIT-C (the first three items), and alcohol-related problems were operationalised as a sum score of 8 or higher on the full 10-item AUDIT.

RESULTS

Higher levels of alcohol consumption were associated with more liberal workplace drinking social norms (b=1.37, p<0.001), working full-time (b=0.18, p<0.001), working from holiday home (b=0.40, p<0.01), being a supervisor (b=0.25, p<0.001), having supervisors with less desired leadership qualities (b=-0.10, p<0.01), shorter working hours (b=-0.03, p<0.05), higher workplace social support (b=0.13, p<0.05) and higher income (b=0.02, p<0.001). Alcohol-related problems were associated with more liberal workplace drinking social norms (OR=3.52, p<0.001) and shorter working hours (OR=0.94, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Workplace drinking social norms were the supremely most dominant predictor of both consumption and alcohol-related problems. Results suggest that some workplace factors may play a role in explaining employee alcohol consumption, although the predictive ability of these factors was limited. This study points to the importance of drinking social norms, workplace drinking culture and leadership for understanding employee alcohol use.

Working with alcohol prevention in occupational health services: "knowing how" is more important than "knowing that" - the WIRUS OHS study

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption is a major public health challenge; the majority of employees consume alcohol regularly and a considerable proportion of employees can be characterized as risky drinkers in need of interventions. Occupational health services (OHS) are uniquely positioned for implementing alcohol prevention interventions targeting employees, but rarely do so. Studies have shown that lack of knowledge among OHS personnel is a barrier to alcohol prevention activity. This study aimed to explore OHS personnels' levels of theoretical and practical alcohol knowledge, and whether these two ways of knowing were differentially associated with alcohol prevention activity.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, survey data were collected from 322 OHS personnel in Norway in 2018 (response rate = 53.6%). The survey included variables of two ways of knowing (theoretical and practical) and three types of doing (intervention frequency, conducting individual interventions, and conducting group interventions). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, paired sample t-tests, bivariate correlations, and adjusted linear and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

OHS personnel rated their theoretical alcohol knowledge higher than their practical knowledge (η² = 0.33, p < 0.001). Higher reported levels of practical knowledge were associated with higher intervention frequency (b = 0.39, β = 0.60, p < 0.001) and greater likelihood of conducting individual interventions (OR = 1.60, p < .001) as well as group interventions (OR = 1.84, p < 0.001). Theoretical knowledge was not associated with conducting interventions, and there was no evidence of an interaction between the two ways of knowing in their association with doing. Sensitivity analyses did not indicate clustering effects of OHS personnel being employed within different units.

CONCLUSIONS

Different ways of knowing about alcohol among OHS personnel were dissimilarly associated with conducting alcohol prevention interventions in occupational health settings. For doing, knowing how seems to be more important than knowing that. Training programs for OHS personnel should emphasize knowledge about how to deal with alcohol-related issues and how to conduct prevention interventions, rather than focus on detrimental effects of alcohol.

Effectiveness of nurse-delivered screening and brief alcohol intervention in the workplace: A randomized controlled trial at five Japan-based companies

BACKGROUND

Excessive alcohol use is a leading cause of global morbidity and premature mortality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two types of nurse-delivered interventions to reduce excessive alcohol consumption among screened participants using the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) in the workplace.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial involving AUDIT-positive employees of five Japan-based companies was conducted. A total of 351 participants were randomized into groups that received a patient information leaflet (PIL), 5 min of brief advice, or 15 min of brief advice and counseling. Outcomes (weekly alcohol consumption and drinking and binge drinking frequency in the previous 30 days) were evaluated at 6 and 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

The follow-up rates were 96.3% (n = 338) and 94.9% (n = 333) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. At 6 months, the mean change in weekly alcohol consumption was -38.1 g (-1.64 US fluid oz/week) in the 15-min brief advice and counseling group, which differed significantly from the PIL group. The reduction in the advice and counseling group persisted at 12-month follow-up but was no longer significantly different from the PIL group. There was no significant change in alcohol consumption observed in the 5-min brief advice group. Improvement in drinking and binge drinking frequency was observed in all three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurse-delivered 15-min brief advice and counseling was effective over a 6-month period in reducing alcohol consumption in a workplace setting. This finding suggests that the implementation of workplace screening and brief intervention could play a useful role in preventing the burden of harmful alcohol use.

Evaluation of a workplace alcohol prevention program targeted on managers’ inclination to initiate early alcohol intervention

BACKGROUND: Alcohol interventions targeting the adult population are often conducted in healthcare settings, while preventive interventions often target adolescents or young adults. The general working population is often overlooked. A workplace-based intervention, consisting of development and implementation of an organizational alcohol policy, and skills development training for managers (APMaT) was carried out in order to prevent and reduce alcohol-related harms by identifying hazardous consumers at an early stage. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate APMaT by focusing on managers’ inclination to initiate early alcohol intervention. METHODS: In a cluster randomized design, data were obtained from 187 managers (control: n = 70; intervention: n = 117). Inclination to initiate early alcohol intervention was measured using three items on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Changes in managers’ inclination to intervene were analyzed by applying multilevel ordered logistic regression. Predictors included in the model were group (control vs. intervention), time (baseline vs. 12-month follow-up), and the multiplicative interaction term (group×time). RESULTS: Significant increase in inclination to intervene against hazardous alcohol consumption among managers in the intervention group compared to managers in the control group was observed. Specifically, a 50% increase of confidence to initiate an intervention was observed among managers in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: APMaT seems effective to increase managers’ inclination to intervene early against hazardous consumption in the workplace. The effectiveness of APMaT at the employee level should be explored in prospective studies.

Swedish Managers' and HR-Officers' Experiences and Perceptions of Participating in Alcohol Prevention Skills Training: A Qualitative Study

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore Swedish managers' and HR-officers' experiences and perceptions of skills training including a development and implementation of an alcohol policy.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Swedish managers (n = 44) and HR-officers (n = 9) from nine different organizations whom had received skills training and an organizational policy implementation. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analyses.

Results

In total, nine themes were identified as: The prevalence of alcohol problems: a wake-up call; a reminder to intervene immediately; an altered view of the responsibility of the employer; initiating conversations about alcohol: a useful toolbox; an imprecise, yet positive, memory; increased awareness of issues related to alcohol culture; I have not heard a word about a new alcohol policy; the alcohol policy: a mere piece of paper; and alcohol problem prevention: hardly a low-hanging fruit. Participants' experiences of the skills training were positive overall.

Conclusion

Various aspects of the skills training were appreciated by managers and HR-officers, including insight of prevalence statistics and employer responsibilities. Participants emphasized the value of repeated skills training occasions for retaining knowledge. Future research may investigate further in what way skills training may affect managers' willingness to engage in workplace alcohol prevention. Since the implementation of any policy had gone unnoticed to participants, a reason for which could be related to the notion of the existing policy as "good enough" in its current condition, implementation and organizational issues, or a reluctance to address alcohol-related matters unless necessary; future research may focus on investigating in what manner alcohol policies are in fact utilized within organizations.

Activate Your Health: impact of a real-life programme promoting healthy lifestyle habits in Canadian workers

The workplace has been suggested as a good setting for the promotion of healthy lifestyles. This article examines the impact of Activate Your Health programme, provided over an average of 1.35 years, on employee health and lifestyle habits (actual and intention to improve). Companies selected one of the programme's four options (number of interventions in parentheses): Control (2), Light (8), Moderate (13) and High (14). Employees (n = 524) completed an online questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. Mixed-effect models and generalized estimating equations models were used, where appropriate. There was an interaction effect of time by option for the number of employees intending to improve sleep habits (p = 0.030): +11.0% in Light (p = 0.013). No significant interaction effect of time by option was observed for body weight, body mass index, number of health problems or lifestyle habits (actual and intention to improve). When stratified by sex, there was an interaction effect of time by option for the number of women intending to improve sleep habits (p = 0.023): -26.1% in Moderate (p = 0.014). There was an interaction effect of time by option for body weight in men (p = 0.001): -0.58 kg in High (p = 0.031) and +2.58 kg in Control (p = 0.005). Other outcomes of interest were stable or improved post-intervention, regardless of option. The Activate Your Health programme allowed employees to maintain or improve outcomes related to health and lifestyle habits. A package like High may be beneficial for body weight regulation in men.

Improvement Predictors in a Workplace Program Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Habits

BACKGROUND

The baseline characteristics of employees to predict improvements in healthy lifestyle habits (LHs) following workplace health promotion programs are underexplored. This study sought to identify predictors of improvements in physical activity (PA), eating habits, sleep habits, and stress management, and health risk factors resulting from healthy LHs.

METHODS

The Activate Your Health program included 3 packages of an increasing number of interventions: light, moderate, and high. Participating employees (n = 506) completed baseline and postintervention questionnaires that collected sociodemographic data, health- and LH-related variables, stress-related variables, and perceptions of general health and life satisfaction. Only those with the potential to improve were included in each improvement outcome analysis.

RESULTS

Being in high and intending to reduce alcohol consumption increased the odds of improving PA. Very good/excellent perceived general health, poor sleep habits, high alcohol consumption, and intending to improve stress management increased the odds of improving stress levels at work. Depression and intending to improve sleep habits increased the odds of improving stress management. Reporting feelings of pleasure increased the odds of improving body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline characteristics predicting improvements differed for each LH. A targeted approach may be needed to help employees improve LHs and related outcomes.

A randomized controlled trial of the web-based drinking diary program for problem drinking in multi workplace settings

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of a web‐based brief intervention (BI) program to record daily drinking among people with problem drinking in workplace settings.

Methods

A two‐armed, parallel‐group, randomized controlled trial were conducted at six workplaces in Japan. After obtaining written consent to participate in the study, workers with an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of 8 or higher were randomly assigned into two groups. The participants allocated to the intervention group recorded their daily alcohol consumption for 4 weeks using the program, while those allocated to the control group received no intervention. Outcome measures included the amount of alcohol consumption in past 7 days using the Timeline Follow‐Back method in the program at baseline, 8th week, and 12th week and written AUDIT score at baseline and 12th week.

Results

Hundred participants were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 50) or control group (n = 50). The results of two‐way repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant interaction between the group and the week factors in the two primary outcomes (number of alcohol‐free days, total drinks) and secondary outcomes (AUDIT score) (p = .04, .02, and .03, respectively). The between‐group effect sizes (Hedges' g; 95% CI) of the outcomes at 12th week were 0.53; 0.13–0.93 (total drinks), 0.44; 0.04–0.84 (AUDIT score), 0.43; 0.03–0.83 (number of alcohol‐free days).

Conclusions

The web‐based BI program for problem drinking was considered to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption and the AUDIT score in workplace settings.

Factors associated with alcohol abuse in nursing professionals in São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract Objective: to identify factors associated with alcohol abuse in nursing professionals in São Paulo State. Methods: this is a case-control nested in a cross-sectional study. We collected data on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, work ability, occupational features, physical and psychosocial work environment, and alcohol abuse (CAGE Questionnaire). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: the study involved 119 participants in the case group and 356 in the control group. After age adjustment, alcohol abuse was associated with male sex (OR: 3.39; 95%CI: 1.96;5.85), current or former smoking (OR: 2.11; 95%CI: 1.32;3.38), and poor sleep quality (OR: 1.91; 95%CI: 1.12;3.25); and negatively associated with ≥50 weekly working hours (OR: 0.54;95%CI: 0.32;0.92) and a monthly family income ≥6.1 minimum wages(OR: 0.37; 95%CI: 0.20;0.67). Conclusions: working hours and individual characteristics were associated with alcohol abuse. Workplaces should implement programs to prevent and treat alcohol abuse in nursing professionals to reduce workers’ and patients’ alcohol-related harms.

Fatores associados ao consumo abusivo de álcool em profissionais de enfermagem no estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Resumo Objetivo: identificar fatores associados ao consumo abusivo de álcool entre profissionais de Enfermagem no estado de São Paulo. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo caso-controle aninhado a um transversal. Foram coletados dados sobre características demográficas, do estilo de vida, capacidade para o trabalho, aspectos ocupacionais, do ambiente de trabalho físico e psicossocial e de consumo abusivo de álcool (questionário CAGE). Foi realizada análise de regressão logística múltipla. Resultados: o estudo envolveu 119 casos e 356 controles. Após ajuste por idade, o consumo abusivo de álcool foi associado ao sexo masculino (OR: 3,39; IC95%:1,96;5,85), tabagismo atual ou pregresso (OR: 2,11; IC95%: 1,32;3,38) e à qualidade do sono ruim (OR: 1,91; IC95%:1,12;3,25); e negativamente associado a carga horária de trabalho semanal ≥50 horas (OR: 0,54; IC95%:0,32;0,92) e renda familiar mensal de ≥6,1 salários-mínimos (OR: 0,37; IC95%: 0,20;0,67). Conclusões: jornada de trabalho e características individuais estiveram associadas ao consumo abusivo de álcool. Programas de prevenção e tratamento do consumo abusivo de álcool em profissionais da Enfermagem deveriam ser implementados nos locais de trabalho, visando reduzir os danos causados pelo álcool para trabalhadores e pacientes.

Effectiveness of Screening and Brief Alcohol Intervention at the Workplace: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial at Five Japan-Based Companies

Background

Despite evidence regarding the effectiveness of screening and brief interventions for excessive alcohol use in primary care, these tools are not a part of routine practice. It has been suggested that using these tools at the workplace may be critical to alcohol-associated harm; however, evidence for this claim is unclear. The aim of this article is to develop a study protocol which evaluates the effect of brief alcohol intervention at the workplace to reduce harmful alcohol drinking.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial involving employees (aged 20-74 years) of five Japan-based companies who were screened "positive" by Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) is on-going. Participants were randomized into "Patient Information Leaflet" (control group), "Brief Advice and Counselling," and "Five-minute Brief Advice" groups. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess alcohol consumption, lifestyle behavior, health status, work performance, and consequences of alcohol use. Data of laboratory markers were collected from routine health checkups.

Results

A total of 351 participants were randomized into Patient Information Leaflet (n = 111), Brief Advice and Counselling (n = 128), and Five-minute Brief Advice (n = 112) groups. Participants were mostly men with a median age of 49 years. Median AUDIT score and weekly alcohol consumption were 11 points and 238 g/week, respectively. Two-thirds of the participants were manufacturing workers.

Conclusion

This study protocol developed the first trial in Japan to investigate the effect of brief alcohol intervention combined with a recommended screening tool at the workplace. Our findings can provide evidence on the effectiveness and relevance of these tools to occupational health.

The prevalence of hazardous and harmful alcohol use across trauma-exposed occupations: A meta-analysis and meta-regression

BACKGROUND

Trauma exposure is associated with hazardous and/or harmful alcohol use. Occupational groups frequently exposed to trauma may be at risk of alcohol harm. This meta-analysis determined the prevalence of hazardous and harmful alcohol use across trauma-exposed occupations and meta-regressions explored the impact of pre-defined covariates on the variance in prevalence estimates.

METHOD

Literature was searched from 2000 to March 2020, using Scopus, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they used a standardized measure of alcohol use (e.g., Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)). Studies were excluded if they measured alcohol use following an isolated sentinel event (e.g., 9/11). The following occupations were included: first responders, health care workers, Armed Forces, war journalists and train drivers.

RESULTS

1882 studies were identified; 55 studies were eligible. The pooled prevalence of hazardous use was 22% (95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 17%-27%) and 11% (95% CI: 8%-14%) for harmful use. Hazardous alcohol use was significantly lower in health care workers (13%; 95% CI: 10%-16%) than first responders (26%; 95% CI: 20%-32%) and Armed Forces (34%; 95% CI: 18%-52%). There was marked heterogeneity across studies and higher prevalence rates in low-quality studies. The meta-regression identified higher proportion of males and younger mean age as predictors of variance.

CONCLUSIONS

Male-dominated occupations, such as police officers and military personnel, showed higher levels of hazardous and harmful alcohol use, indicating that interventions tailored specifically for these occupational groups may be needed.

Exploratory Analyses for Missing Data in Meta-Analyses and Meta-Regression: A Tutorial

OBJECTIVES

In this tutorial, we examine methods for exploring missingness in a dataset in ways that can help to identify the sources and extent of missingness, as well as clarify gaps in evidence.

METHODS

Using raw data from a meta-analysis of substance abuse interventions, we demonstrate the use of exploratory missingness analysis (EMA) including techniques for numerical summaries and visual displays of missing data.

RESULTS

These techniques examine the patterns of missing covariates in meta-analysis data and the relationships among variables with missing data and observed variables including the effect size. The case study shows complex relationships among missingness and other potential covariates in meta-regression, highlighting gaps in the evidence base.

CONCLUSION

Meta-analysts could often benefit by employing some form of EMA as they encounter missing data.

Quality improvement activity in occupational healthcare associated with reduced need for disability retirement: A Bayesian mixed effects modelling study in Finland

Objectives There is evidence that occupational healthcare (OHC) may improve employees' work ability. This research was designed to study whether common quality improvement (QI) activities in the OHC quality network (OQN) - a voluntary collaborative forum - can reduce the need for disability pensions. Methods The study population comprised employees under the care of 19 OHC units in Finland affiliated with the OQN. The association of 12 QI activities with new disability pensions during the years 2011-2017 was analyzed by Bayesian mixed effects modelling. Results Patients of OHC units affiliated with the OQN have fewer full permanent disability pensions [odds ratio (OR) 0.77, 95% credible interval (CI) 0.60-0.98] and full provisional disability pensions (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53-0.87) than patients of unaffiliated units. Of the studied QI activities, the measurements of intervening in excessive use of alcohol had the strongest association with the incidence of all disability pensions (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.41-0.68). Participation in the focus of work measurements and quality facilitator training was also associated with the reduced incidence of disability pensions (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71-0.98, and OR 0.92, 95 CI 0.84-0.99, respectively). Conclusions Affiliation with a quality network seemed to improve outcomes by reducing full disability pensions or replacing them by partial disability pensions. Some QI activities in the OQN were associated with a reduction of disability pensions.

Risky Alcohol Consumption and Heavy Episodic Drinking among Parents in Germany: Results of a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Risky alcohol consumption (RAC) and heavy episodic drinking (HED) by parents can have negative effects on their children. At present, little is known about these forms of alcohol consumption among parents in Germany. The aim of this analysis is to estimate the percentage of parents living in Germany who practise RAC and HED and to study associations between these consumption patterns and sociodemographic factors.

Material and Methods

The data basis comprises the data of the nationwide studies "Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell" (GEDA) of 2009, 2010, and 2012. The data were collected by means of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Our analysis included all participants living in a household with at least one child of their own under 18 years of age (n = 16,224). Information on RAC and HED was collected using the AUDIT-C screening instrument. Logistic regression models were used to study the relationship between parental alcohol consumption and sociodemographic variables.

Results

18.4% of the mothers and 29.6% of the fathers exhibited RAC; 8.4% of the mothers and 21.0% of the fathers practised HED. After mutual adjustment, RAC showed a significant association with the level of education, income (only mothers), employment status (only mothers), migration background, relationship status (only mothers), and the age of the youngest child. HED showed a significant association with income (only mothers), the age of the youngest child (only mothers), and the level of education (only fathers).

Conclusions

The presented analysis emphasizes the relevance of preventive measures to reduce parental alcohol consumption. In addition to universal interventions, risk group-specific measures (e.g., for parents with high income) are needed to reduce parental alcohol consumption and thus support a healthy development of children.