How Can Risk Drinking Amongst Medical Patients be Modified? The Effects of Computer Screening and Advice and a Self-Help Manual

Abstract

547 patients admitted to the medical wards of a general hospital in South West England completed a computer-administered health behaviour screening questionnaire. This included a retrospective week's drinking diary and questions about alcohol-related problems. All patients were shown, via the computer, a summary of their own week's drinking in comparison with nationally recommended upper limits for safe drinking. In addition, all those who were considered to be risk drinkers on the basis of consumption or problems (23% of males, 7% of females) were advised via the computer to reduce their consumption and were given an approved self-help manual. All risk drinkers and a proportion of others were asked to complete the same questionnaire six months later. Seventy-five per cent of those asked, did so. The computer screening procedure was well accepted into ward routine and a simple before and after comparison showed a slight but significant reduction in drinking risk for the group as a whole. Regression discontinuity analysis showed that computer advice to reduce consumption plus provision of the self-help manual was of no additional benefit in helping patients reduce drinking risk.