Brief Alcohol Intervention Shows Potential in Japanese Occupational Health Settings

The occupational health setting could be a place to implement brief intervention (BI) for unhealthy alcohol use. Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial in 6 companies in Japan. Participants (N = 304) were recruited by advertisement and then screened for unhealthy alcohol use and randomized to 1 of 3 groups: BI, BI plus completion of a drinking diary every day for 3 months, and control. Follow-up took place at 3 and 12 months. The intervention was delivered by occupational health care providers (nurses and physicians).

• The follow-up rate was 93% in the BI group, 85% in the BI+diary group, and 95% in the control group.
• At baseline, the mean number of drinks over the past week was 35.2, 35, and 32.5 in the BI, BI+diary, and control groups, respectively. At 12 months, there was a significant reduction in all groups (mean number of drinks in a week: 24.1, 27.5, and 25.5), but no differences were observed between groups. Similarly, a reduction in the number of heavy episodic drinking episodes over the past 28 days was observed in all groups, without differences between groups (baseline: 7.6, 8.3, 6.7; 12 months: 4.4, 4.7, 5.3).
• There was an increase in the number of alcohol-free days over the past 28 days and a significant beneficial effect in the two BI groups was observed (baseline: 4.6, 4.1, 5; 12 months: 9.0, 7.5, 6.6).
• No differences were observed on any outcome between the BI and BI+diary groups.

Comments:

Despite important limitations due to design (notably it seems that the personnel who conducted the interventions also conducted the research assessments), this study suggests a possible effect of BI, among individuals concerned enough about their alcohol consumption to enroll in a trial, on the number of alcohol-free days. Adding a drinking diary did not increase the effect of the BI and had a detrimental effect on the follow-up rate.

Nicolas Bertholet, MD, MSc

Reference:

Ito C, Yuzuriha T, Noda T, et al. Brief intervention in the workplace for heavy drinkers: a randomized clinical trial in Japan. Alcohol Alcohol. 2015;50(2):157–163.