Brief interventions for risk consumption of alcohol at an emergency surgical ward

Patients admitted to an emergency surgical ward were screened for alcohol p roblems and randomized between an extensive alcohol counseling and a brief assessment followed by feedback of risky alcohol consumption. Some 165 pati ents were assessed for risk consumption and followed up 6 to 12 months, and it was found that patients in both interventions significantly reduced the amount they drank per occasion although they drank as often as before. The patients had also moved to a stage more ready to change. No differences in effect were found between the interventions. A brief assessment with feedb ack about risk consumption can be done on an emergency surgical ward by the surgical staff with a few hours of training and may reduce risky alcohol c onsumption significantly. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.