Technology-Based Alcohol Interventions in Primary Care: Systematic Review

Digital interventions targeting excessive substance use and substance use disorders: a comprehensive and systematic scoping review and bibliometric analysis

Addictive substances are prevalent world-wide, and their use presents a substantial and persistent public health problem. A wide range of digital interventions to decrease use and negative consequences thereof have been explored, differing in approach, theoretical grounding, use of specific technologies, and more. The current study was designed to comprehensively map the recent (2015-2022) extant literature in a systematic manner, and to identify neglected and emerging knowledge gaps. Four major databases (Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, and PsychInfo) were searched using database-specific search strategies, combining terms related to clinical presentation (alcohol, tobacco or other drug use), technology and aim. After deduplication, the remaining n=13,917 unique studies published were manually screened in two stages, leaving a final n=3,056 studies, the abstracts of which were subjected to a tailored coding scheme. Findings revealed an accelerating rate of publications in this field, with randomized trials being the most common study type. Several meta-analyses on the topic have now been published, revealing promising and robust effects. Digital interventions are being offered on numerous levels, from targeted prevention to specialized clinics. Detailed coding was at times made difficult by inconsistent use of specific terms, which has important implications for future meta-analyses. Moreover, we identify several gaps in the extant literature - few health economic assessments, unclear descriptions of interventions, weak meta-analytic support for some type of interventions, and limited research on many target groups, settings and new interventions like video calls, chatbots and artificial intelligence - that we argue are important to address in future research.

Do in-person and computer-based brief alcohol interventions reduce tobacco smoking among general hospital patients? Secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

At-risk alcohol use and tobacco smoking often co-occur. We investigated whether brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) among general hospital patients with at-risk alcohol use may also reduce tobacco smoking over 2 years. We also investigated whether such effects vary by delivery mode; i.e. in-person versus computer-based BAI.

METHODS

A proactively recruited sample of 961 general hospital patients with at-risk alcohol use aged 18 to 64 years was allocated to three BAI study groups: in-person BAI, computer-based BAI, and assessment only. In-person- and computer-based BAI included motivation-enhancing intervention contacts to reduce alcohol use at baseline and 1 and 3 months later. Follow-ups were conducted after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. A two-part latent growth model, with self-reported smoking status (current smoking: yes/no) and number of cigarettes in smoking participants as outcomes, was estimated.

RESULTS

Smoking participants in computer-based BAI smoked fewer cigarettes per day than those assigned to assessment only at month 6 (meannet change = - 0.02; 95% confidence interval = - 0.08-0.00). After 2 years, neither in-person- nor computer-based BAI significantly changed smoking status or number of cigarettes per day in comparison to assessment only or to each other (ps ≥ 0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

While computer-based BAI also resulted in short-term reductions of number of cigarettes in smoking participants, none of the two BAIs were sufficient to evoke spill-over effects on tobacco smoking over 2 years. For long-term smoking cessation effects, multibehavioural interventions simultaneously targeting tobacco smoking along with at-risk alcohol use may be more effective.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01291693.

Research and engagement considerations for alcohol use telehealth services within HIV care: a qualitative exploration in federally qualified health centers

The prevalence of alcohol misuse is high among people with HIV (PWH); however, access to and utilization of evidence-based alcohol misuse interventions remain limited. Telehealth is one treatment approach with the potential for enhancing substance use disorder treatment utilization for PWH served by Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). However, questions remain regarding barriers to alcohol-focused telehealth service integration and telehealth research in FQHCs. This study employed qualitative methods, guided by the Dynamic Sustainability Framework, to evaluate barriers and cultural factors impacting FQHC telehealth integration. Eighteen qualitative interviews were completed with staff and leaders across four FQHCs. Interviews were analyzed using directed content analysis, and codes were organized into a priori and emergent themes. Key themes included the presence of common workflows for referring clients to substance use disorder treatment; existing research workflows and preferences for active project staff involvement; telehealth barriers including exacerbation of healthcare disparities and high provider turnover; and the importance of cultural humility and telehealth adaptations for sexual, gender, racial and ethnic minority clients. Findings from this study will inform the development of an alcohol-focused telehealth implementation strategy for a Hybrid Type 1 implementation effectiveness trial to enhance FQHC substance use disorder treatment.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02563574..

Implementation and workflow strategies for integrating digital therapeutics for alcohol use disorders into primary care: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are prevalent and often go untreated. Patients are commonly screened for AUD in primary care, but existing treatment programs are failing to meet demand. Digital therapeutics include novel mobile app-based treatment approaches which may be cost-effective treatment options to help fill treatment gaps. The goal of this study was to identify implementation needs and workflow design considerations for integrating digital therapeutics for AUD into primary care.

METHODS

We conducted qualitative interviews with clinicians, care delivery leaders, and implementation staff (n = 16) in an integrated healthcare delivery system in the United States. All participants had experience implementing digital therapeutics for depression or substance use disorders in primary care. Interviews were designed to gain insights into adaptations needed to optimize existing clinical processes, workflows, and implementation strategies for use with alcohol-focused digital therapeutics. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and then analyzed using a rapid analysis process and affinity diagramming.

RESULTS

Qualitative themes were well represented across health system staff roles. Participants were enthusiastic about digital therapeutics for AUD, anticipated high patient demand for such a resource, and made suggestions for successful implementation. Key insights regarding the implementation of digital therapeutics for AUD and unhealthy alcohol use from our data include: (1) implementation strategy selection must be driven by digital therapeutic design and target population characteristics, (2) implementation strategies should seek to minimize burden on clinicians given the large numbers of patients with AUD who are likely to be interested in and eligible for digital therapeutics, and (3) digital therapeutics should be offered alongside many other treatment options to accommodate individual patients' AUD severity and treatment goals. Participants also expressed confidence that previous implementation strategies used with other digital therapeutics such as clinician training, electronic health record supports, health coaching, and practice facilitation would be effective for the implementation of digital therapeutics for AUD.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of digital therapeutics for AUD would benefit from careful consideration of the target population. Optimal integration requires tailoring workflows to meet anticipated patient volume and designing workflow and implementation strategies to meet the unique needs of patients with varying AUD severity.

Digital interventions for opioid use disorder treatment: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION

Opioid use disorders are associated with a high burden of disease and treatment gap. Digital interventions can be used to provide psycho-social treatment for opioid use disorders, as an alternative to or together with face-to-face interventions. This review aimed to assess the application and effectiveness of digital interventions to treat opioid use disorder globally.

METHODS

The study team searched four electronic databases (PubMed, Psych INFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Central register of controlled trials). The inclusion criteria were: randomized controlled trials, assessment for opioid use before and at least once following intervention, and use of digital interventions. The primary outcomes were opioid use and/or retention in treatment, with data being summarized in tables and a narrative review presented.

RESULTS

The initial database search yielded 3542 articles, of which this review includes 20. Nineteen were conducted among adults in the United States. The digital interventions used included web-based, computer-based, telephone calls, video conferencing, automated self-management system, mobile applications and text messaging. They were based on therapeutic education systems, community reinforcement approaches, cognitive behavior therapy, relapse prevention, brief interventions, supportive counselling and motivational interviewing. The studies had mixed findings; of the 20 studies, 10 had statistically significant differences between the treatment groups for opioid abstinence, and four had significant differences for treatment retention. Comparisons were difficult due to varying methodologies. Participants rated the interventions as acceptable and reported high rates of satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

The use of digital interventions for opioid use disorder treatment was acceptable, with varying levels of effectiveness for improving outcomes, which is influenced by participant and intervention delivery factors. Further studies in different parts of the world should compare these findings, specifically in low- and middle-income countries.

Telehealth interventions for substance use disorders in low- and- middle income countries: A scoping review

The increasing prevalence and magnitude of harmful effects of substance use disorders (SUDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) make it imperative to embrace interventions which are acceptable, feasible, and effective in reducing this burden. Globally, the use of telehealth interventions is increasingly being explored as possible effective approaches in the management of SUDs. Using a scoping review of literature, this article summarizes and evaluates evidence for the acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of telehealth interventions for SUDs in LMICs. Searches were conducted in five bibliographic databases: PubMed, Psych INFO, Web of Science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Professionals and the Cochrane database of systematic review. Studies from LMICs which described a telehealth modality, identified at least one psychoactive substance use among participants, and methods that either compared outcomes using pre- and post-intervention data, treatment versus comparison groups, post-intervention data, behavioral or health outcome, and outcome of either acceptability, feasibility, and/or effectiveness were included. Data is presented in a narrative summary using charts, graphs, and tables. The search produced 39 articles across 14 countries which fulfilled our eligibility criteria over a period of 10 years (2010 to 2020). Research on this topic increased remarkably in the latter five years with the highest number of studies in 2019. The identified studies were heterogeneous in their methods and various telecommunication modalities were used to evaluate substance use disorder, with cigarette smoking as the most assessed. Most studies used quantitative methods. The highest number of included studies were from China and Brazil, and only two studies from Africa assessed telehealth interventions for SUDs. There has been an increasingly significant body of literature which evaluates telehealth interventions for SUDs in LMICs. Overall, telehealth interventions showed promising acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness for SUDs. This article identifies gaps and strengths and suggests directions for future research.

Implementing a text-messaging intervention for unhealthy alcohol use in emergency departments: protocol for implementation strategy development and a pilot cluster randomized implementation trial

BACKGROUND

Unhealthy alcohol use (UAU) is a leading cause of premature mortality among adults in the USA. Emergency departments (EDs) are key intervention settings for UAU but often have limited time and resources. One low-burden, scalable approach to address UAU is text-messaging interventions. Despite strong research support and promise for scalability, there is little research on how to implement such interventions in healthcare settings. The process of providers making them available to patients in an efficient way within already busy and overburdened ED workflows and patients adopting them remains a new area of research. The purpose of this three-phase study is to develop and test an implementation strategy for UAU text-messaging interventions in EDs.

METHOD

Our first aim is to examine barriers and facilitators to staff offering and patients accepting a text-messaging intervention in the ED using an explanatory, sequential mixed methods approach. We will examine alcohol screening data in the electronic health records of 17 EDs within a large integrated health system in the Northeast and conduct surveys among chairpersons in each. This data will be used to purposively sample 4 EDs for semi-structured interviews among 20 clinical staff, 20 patients, and 4 chairpersons. Our second aim is to conduct a stakeholder-engaged intervention mapping process to develop a multi-component implementation strategy for EDs. Our third aim is to conduct a mixed method 2-arm cluster randomized pilot study in 4 EDs that serve ~11,000 UAU patients per year to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the implementation strategy. The Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework will guide study activities.

DISCUSSION

Low-burden technology, like text messaging, along with targeted implementation support and strategies driven by identified barriers and facilitators could sustain large-scale ED-based alcohol screening programs and provide much needed support to patients who screen positive while reducing burden on EDs. The proposed study would be the first to develop and test this targeted implementation strategy and will prepare for a larger, fully powered hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. Findings may also be broadly applicable to implementation of patient-facing mobile health technologies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05350878) on 4/28/2022.

Novel Implementation Strategy to Electronically Screen and Signpost Patients to Health Behavior Apps: Mixed Methods Implementation Study (OptiMine Study)

BACKGROUND

Behavior change apps have the potential to provide individual support on a population scale at low cost, but they face numerous barriers to implementation. Electronic health records (EHRs) in acute care hospitals provide a valuable resource for identifying patients at risk, who may benefit from behavior change apps. A novel, emerging implementation strategy is to use digital technologies not only for providing support to help-seeking individuals but also for signposting patients at risk to support services (also called proactive referral in the United States).

OBJECTIVE

The OptiMine study aimed to increase the reach of behavior change apps by implementing electronic signposting for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction in a large, at-risk population that was identified through an acute care hospital EHR.

METHODS

This 3-phase, mixed methods implementation study assessed the acceptability, feasibility, and reach of electronic signposting to behavior change apps by using a hospital's EHR system to identify patients who are at risk. Phase 1 explored the acceptability of the implementation strategy among the patients and staff through focus groups. Phase 2 investigated the feasibility of using the hospital EHR to identify patients with target risk behaviors and contact them via SMS text message, email, or patient portal. Phase 3 assessed the impact of SMS text messages sent to patients who were identified as smokers or risky drinkers, which signposted them to behavior change apps. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who clicked on the embedded link in the SMS text message to access information about the apps. The acceptability of the SMS text messages among the patients who had received them was also explored in a web-based survey.

RESULTS

Our electronic signposting strategy-using SMS text messages to promote health behavior change apps to patients at risk-was found to be acceptable and feasible and had good reach. The hospital sent 1526 SMS text messages, signposting patients to either the National Health Service Smokefree or Drink Free Days apps. A total of 13.56% (207/1526) of the patients clicked on the embedded link to the apps, which exceeded our 5% a priori success criterion. Patients and staff contributed to the SMS text message content and delivery approach, which were perceived as acceptable before and after the delivery of the SMS text messages. The feasibility of the SMS text message format was determined and the target population was identified by mining the EHR.

CONCLUSIONS

The OptiMine study demonstrated the proof of concept for this novel implementation strategy, which used SMS text messages to signpost at-risk individuals to behavior change apps at scale. The level of reach exceeded our a priori success criterion in a non-help-seeking population of patients receiving unsolicited SMS text messages, disconnected from hospital visits.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/23669.

Social Equity in the Efficacy of Computer-Based and In-Person Brief Alcohol Interventions Among General Hospital Patients With At-Risk Alcohol Use: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Social equity in the efficacy of behavior change intervention is much needed. While the efficacy of brief alcohol interventions (BAIs), including digital interventions, is well established, particularly in health care, the social equity of interventions has been sparsely investigated.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to investigate whether the efficacy of computer-based versus in-person delivered BAIs is moderated by the participants' socioeconomic status (ie, to identify whether general hospital patients with low-level education and unemployed patients may benefit more or less from one or the other way of delivery compared to patients with higher levels of education and those that are employed).

METHODS

Patients with nondependent at-risk alcohol use were identified through systematic offline screening conducted on 13 general hospital wards. Patients were approached face-to-face and asked to respond to an app for self-assessment provided by a mobile device. In total, 961 (81% of eligible participants) were randomized and received their allocated intervention: computer-generated and individually tailored feedback letters (CO), in-person counseling by research staff trained in motivational interviewing (PE), or assessment only (AO). CO and PE were delivered on the ward and 1 and 3 months later, were based on the transtheoretical model of intentional behavior change and required the assessment of intervention data prior to each intervention. In CO, the generation of computer-based feedback was created automatically. The assessment of data and sending out feedback letters were assisted by the research staff. Of the CO and PE participants, 89% (345/387) and 83% (292/354) received at least two doses of intervention, and 72% (280/387) and 54% (191/354) received all three doses of intervention, respectively. The outcome was change in grams of pure alcohol per day after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, with the latter being the primary time-point of interest. Follow-up interviewers were blinded. Study group interactions with education and employment status were tested as predictors of change in alcohol use using latent growth modeling.

RESULTS

The efficacy of CO and PE did not differ by level of education (P=.98). Employment status did not moderate CO efficacy (Ps≥.66). Up to month 12 and compared to employed participants, unemployed participants reported significantly greater drinking reductions following PE versus AO (incidence rate ratio 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.94; P=.03) and following PE versus CO (incidence rate ratio 0.48, 95% CI 0.24-0.96; P=.04). After 24 months, these differences were statistically nonsignificant (Ps≥.31).

CONCLUSIONS

Computer-based and in-person BAI worked equally well independent of the patient's level of education. Although findings indicate that in the short-term, unemployed persons may benefit more from BAI when delivered in-person rather than computer-based, the findings suggest that both BAIs have the potential to work well among participants with low socioeconomic status.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01291693; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01291693.

Approaches for implementing digital interventions for alcohol use disorders in primary care: A qualitative, user-centered design study

Background

Digital interventions, such as smartphone apps, can be effective in treating alcohol use disorders (AUD). However, efforts to integrate digital interventions into primary care have been challenging. To inform successful implementation, we sought to understand how patients and clinicians preferred to use apps in routine primary care.

Methods

This study combined user-centered design and qualitative research methods, interviewing 18 primary care patients with AUD and nine primary care clinicians on topics such as prior experiences with digital tools, and design preferences regarding approaches for offering apps for AUD in primary care. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for template analysis whereby a priori codes were based on interview topics and refined through iterative coding. New codes and cross-cutting themes emerged from the data.

Results

Patient participants with AUD indicated they would be more likely to engage in treatment if primary care team members were involved in their use of apps. They also preferred to see clinicians “invested” and recommended that clinicians ask about app use and progress during follow-up appointments or check-ins. Clinician participants valued the opportunity to offer apps to their patients but noted that workflows would need to be tailored to individual patient needs. Time pressures, implementation complexity, and lack of appropriate staffing were cited as barriers. Clinicians proposed concrete solutions (e.g., education, tools, and staffing models) that could improve their ability to use apps within the constraints of primary care and suggested that some patients could potentially use apps without clinician support.

Conclusions

A user-centered approach to engaging patients in digital alcohol interventions in primary care may require personalized support for both initiation and follow-up. Meeting patients’ needs likely require increased staffing and efficient workflows in primary care. Health systems should consider offering multiple pathways for enrolling patients in apps to accommodate individual preferences and contextual barriers.

Plain Language Summary

Healthcare systems have begun using app-based treatments to help patients manage their health conditions, including alcohol use disorders. Some apps have been tested in research studies and appear to be effective. However, it is difficult for healthcare teams to offer apps to patients. Clinicians must engage in new activities that they have not done before, such as “teaching” patients to use apps and checking in on their use of the apps. Identifying how to use apps in routine healthcare is critical to their successful implementation. This study interviewed 27 people, including healthcare providers and patients in primary care, to uncover the most optimal ways to offer apps to patients with alcohol use disorders. The interviews combined the use of qualitative research methods and user-centered design. Results suggest that to use to address alcohol use disorders, primary care teams should be prepared to offer personalized support to patients. Both patient and clinician interviewees said that the steps required to use apps must be intuitive and simple. Patients could gain more benefits if clinicians introduced the apps and guided patients to use them, as opposed to making apps available for patients to download and use on their own. However, the exact approach to offering apps would depend on a given patient’s preferences and the extent that staffing was available in the clinic to support patients. Health systems should be prepared to offer and support patients in their use of apps, which should accommodate patient preferences and the constraints of the clinic.

Clinician Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing e-Health Technology in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Facilities

Background:

Substance use disorders (SUDs) in the United States cause many preventable deaths each year. Finding effective ways to manage SUDs is vital to improving outcomes for individuals seeking treatment. This has increased interest in using e-health technologies in behavioral healthcare settings. This research is part of a larger study evaluating the efficacy of the NIATx coaching intervention for implementing RISE Iowa, an e-health patient recovery app, in SUD treatment organizations and seeks to examine clinician perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to its implementation.

Method:

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 clinicians from 9 different intervention sites involved in the study.

Results:

Major barriers to implementing e-health technology include inability to access the technology, lack of time for both patients and clinicians, and a perceived lack of patient motivation to make changes. Facilitators to implementation include collaboration with other staff using e-health technology and integrating technology use into typical workflows.

Conclusions:

Implementation of e-health technology in SUD treatment will require integrating the technology into clinical workflows and improving patient access to the technology.

Integrating patient perspectives in the development of a mobile health intervention to address chronic pain and heavy drinking in primary care: a qualitative study of patients in an urban, safety-net hospital setting

Background

Chronic pain and heavy drinking are conditions that commonly co-occur among primary care patients. Despite the availability of behavioral interventions that target these conditions individually, engagement and adherence to treatment remain a challenge, and there have been no interventions designed to address both of these conditions together for patients presenting to primary care. This study seeks to incorporate the perspectives of patients regarding symptoms, treatment experiences, views on behavior change, and technology use to develop a tailored, integrated mobile health intervention that addresses both pain and heavy drinking among patients in primary care.

Methods

Twelve participants with moderate or greater chronic pain intensity and heavy drinking were recruited from primary care clinics in a large urban safety-net hospital. One-on-one interviews were recorded and transcribed. Codes were developed from interview transcripts, followed by thematic analysis in which specific meanings were assigned to codes. Participants also completed a series of Likert-based rating scales to evaluate components of the proposed intervention to supplement qualitative interviews.

Results

A number of themes were identified that had implications for intervention tailoring including: ambivalence about changing drinking, low expectations about pain treatment success, desire for contact with a designated provider, common use of smartphones but lack of familiarity with functions as a potential barrier to use, and strategies to maintain engagement and adherence. Evaluative ratings indicated that the proposed intervention content was perceived as helpful and the proposed structure, layout and design of the mobile intervention was acceptable to patients.

Conclusions

Results supported the view that a mobile health intervention delivered via smartphone with electronic coaching is an acceptable method of addressing chronic pain and heavy drinking among patients in primary care. The interviews highlight the need to utilize an intervention approach that addresses motivation to change drinking, sets realistic expectations for change, provides careful attention to training/education of the use of technology components, and fosters engagement through the use of reminders, feedback, and personalized activities.

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.

Mining Electronic Health Records to Promote the Reach of Digital Interventions for Cancer Prevention Through Proactive Electronic Outreach: Protocol for the Mixed Methods OptiMine Study

BACKGROUND

Digital behavior change interventions have demonstrated effectiveness for smoking cessation and reducing alcohol intake, which ultimately reduce cancer risk. Leveraging electronic health records (EHR) to identify at-risk patients and increasing the reach of digital interventions through proactive electronic outreach provide a novel approach that may increase the number of individuals who engage with evidence-based treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to increase the reach of digital behavior change interventions by implementing a proactive electronic message system for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction among a large, at-risk population identified through an acute hospital EHR.

METHODS

This protocol describes a 3-phase, mixed-methods implementation study to assess the acceptability, feasibility, and reach of a proactive electronic message system to digital interventions using a hospital's EHR system to identify eligible patients. In Phase 1, we will conduct focus group discussions with patients and hospital staff to assess the overall acceptability of the electronic message system. In Phase 2, we will conduct a descriptive analysis of the patient population in the hospital EHR regarding target risk behaviors and other person-level characteristics to determine the project's feasibility and potential reach. In Phase 3, we will send proactive messages to patients identified as smokers or risky drinkers. Messages will encourage and provide access to behavior change mobile apps via an embedded link; the primary outcome will be the proportion of participants who click on the link to access information about the apps.

RESULTS

At the time of initial protocol submission, data collection was complete, but analysis had not begun. This study was funded by Cancer Research UK from April 2019 to March 2020. Health Research Authority approval was granted in June 2019.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing the reach of digital behavior change interventions can improve population health by reducing the burden of preventable death and disease.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/23669.

Sick days in general hospital patients two years after brief alcohol intervention: Secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial

Little is known about the long-term impact of brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) on health and on sick days in particular. The aim was to investigate whether BAIs reduce sick days in general hospital patients over two years, and whether effects depend on how BAIs are delivered; either through in-person counseling (PE) or computer-generated written feedback (CO). To investigate this, secondary outcome data from a three-arm randomized controlled trial with 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month follow-ups were used. The sample included 960 patients (18-64 years) with at-risk alcohol use identified through systematic screening on 13 hospital wards. Patients with particularly severe alcohol problems were excluded. Participants were allocated to PE, CO and assessment only (AO). Both interventions were tailored according to behavior change theory and included three contacts. Self-reported number of sick days in the past 6 months was assessed at all time-points. A zero-inflated negative binomial latent growth model adjusted for socio-demographics, substance use related variables and medical department was calculated. In comparison to AO, PE (OR = 2.18, p = 0.047) and CO (OR = 2.08, p = 0.047) resulted in statistically significant increased odds of reporting no sick days 24 months later. Differences between PE and CO, and concerning sick days when any reported, were non-significant. This study provides evidence for the long-term efficacy of BAIs concerning health, and concerning sick days in particular. BAIs have the potential to reduce the occurrence of sick days over 2 years, independent of whether they are delivered through in-person counseling or computer-generated written feedback.

Strategies to improve treatment utilization for substance use disorders: A systematic review of intervention studies

BACKGROUND

Many people who need specialty treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) do not receive it. Clinical interventions could increase treatment utilization but are not routinely used. This systematic review aimed to describe clinical interventions that may increase SUD specialty treatment utilization (i.e., treatment initiation, attendance, meaningful engagement) and to determine which intervention(s) most consistently increase treatment utilization.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of clinical intervention studies (published in English between 2000 and 2017) reporting outcomes relevant to specialty SUD treatment utilization. Outcomes were treatment initiation, attendance, and meaningful engagement. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane guidelines and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with bias scores < 3 were included in a synthesis of results. Proportions of positive to negative utilization outcomes were calculated for each low-bias RCT; studies with 50% positive outcomes or more were considered "majority-positive". Studies were categorized by theory-based approach.

RESULTS

Twenty-three RCTs had low risk of bias and were synthesized. Among intervention types with two or more studies, cognitive-behavioral (100% majority-positive) and coordinated care (67% majority-positive) interventions were most likely to increase treatment initiation, while 12-step promotion interventions were most likely to increase treatment attendance (50% majority-positive). One study (12-step promotion) measured meaningful engagement, with majority-positive outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

A systematic review and narrative synthesis of clinical interventions promoting specialty SUD treatment utilization provided preliminary evidence that cognitive-behavioral and coordinated care interventions may increase treatment initiation, while 12-step promotion interventions may promote treatment attendance. More quality studies and greater consistency in treatment utilization measurement are needed.

Psychiatric comorbidities in alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder is a major contributor to the morbidity and mortality burden worldwide. It often coexists with other psychiatric disorders; however, the nature of this comorbidity is still a matter of debate. In this Series paper, we examine the main psychiatric disorders associated with alcohol use disorder, including the prevalence of co-occurring disorders, the temporal nature of the relationship, and mechanisms that might explain comorbidity across the lifespan. Overall, this disorder co-occurs with a wide range of other psychiatric disorders, especially those disorders involving substance use and violent or aggressive behaviour. The causal pathways between alcohol use disorder and other psychiatric disorders are heterogeneous. Hypotheses explaining these relationships include reciprocal direct causal associations, shared genetic and environmental causes, and shared psychopathological characteristics of broader diagnostic entities (eg, externalising disorders). Efforts to untangle the associations between alcohol use disorder and other disorders across the lifespan remain a crucial avenue of research.

The moderating effects of information overload and academic procrastination on the information avoidance behavior among Filipino undergraduate thesis writers

Information avoidance is a behavior that could either prevent or delay consumption of information. While information avoidance has been documented in various fields of interest, its overall dynamics in the context of library and information science remains a research blankspot. The overall intent of this paper is to develop a model that examines the moderating effect of information overload and academic procrastination on the information avoidance behavior among Filipino undergraduate thesis writers. Capitalizing on Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) design, a total of 215 Filipino undergraduate thesis writers participated in the study. A multi-aspect questionnaire was used to measure the following variables: information overload, academic procrastination and information avoidance. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results show that when students have a positive attitude towards reading, the more likely they are to employ better reading strategies and the less likely they are to exhibit information avoidance. On the other hand, the more reading strategies are used, the lower is information avoidance. Additionally, the tendency to procrastinate has less effect on the relationship between reading strategies and information avoidance and the tendency to procrastinate and acquire excessive information has less effect on the relationship between reading attitudes and information avoidance. Implications for university settings are also discussed in this paper.