[Intervention for alcoholism control among chronic drinkers in primary care]

[Screening and effectiveness evaluation of a brief intervention in risk drinkers seen in primary health care]

AIMS

To evaluate the screening, the effectiveness of an antialcoholic brief intervention for risk drinkers, the acceptation level to participate in this study, and the analytical parameters evolution associated to the alcohol consumption after of the intervention.

DESIGN

Longitudinal prospective intervention study of 1 year of duration.

SETTING

5 urban primary care physician's practices.

PARTICIPANTS

Of an aleatory pattern of 681 patients, men and women of 18-65 years old, were selected 78 risk drinkers. Patients with exclusion criteria (n=10), didn't wanted to participate (n=24) and had suspicion of alcoholic dependence syndrome (ADS) (n=11), didn't participated in this intervention.

INTERVENTIONS

Were offered antialcoholic brief counselling with written supporter and were followed with alcohol consumption rate and analytical control at 2 and 12 months.

MAIN MEASURES

Was estimated the prevalence of risk drinkers, the acceptation level to participate in this study, alcohol consumption and risk drinkers decreased at 2 and 12 months, analytical parameters evolution after of the intervention.

RESULTS

Prevalence of risk drinkers: 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3%-14.7%). Acceptation level to participate in this study: 64.7%. Significative alcohol consumption decreased at 2 and 12 months (P<.05). Risk drinkers decreased: at 2 months were 57.6% (95% CI, 50.3%-64.9%; P=.01) and at 12 months were 42.4% (95% CI; 35.9%-48.9%) (P=.003). GGT, MCV, cholesterol, and triglycerides significative decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

Low prevalence of risk drinkers without suspicion of ADS in our setting; high effectiveness of antialcoholic brief counselling and high acceptation level to participate in this study; reduction of the GGT, MCV, cholesterol, and triglycerides after of the intervention.