Brief interventions for patients with alcohol-related trauma

Patients who have sustained alcohol-related injuries are frequently treated in departments of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Often, an alcohol interv ention will not be possible in accident and emergency departments due to in toxication but, when attending out-patient clinics for follow-up, patients are usually sober. This presents a unique opportunity for encouraging patie nts to review their alcohol consumption at a time when their facial injury may make them more receptive to advice. This article reviews the convincing evidence of the effectiveness of advice and brief interventions designed t o be incorporated into standard out-patient consultations and describes pra ctical screening of patients for harmful drinking, the Stages of Change Mod el of behaviour change and motivational interviewing for facilitating behav ioural change.