Screening and brief intervention for hazardous drinking in an HMO: Effectson medical care utilization

This study examined whether a brief intervention to reduce hazardous alcoho l consumption among primary care patients reduced use of medical care. In a parent, randomized controlled trial, at-risk drinkers identified in HMO ou tpatient waiting rooms were randomly assigned to receive usual care or brie f clinician advice plus a 15-minute motivational counseling session. The cu rrent study (n = 514) examined the groups' use of outpatient and inpatient medical services during two years after intervention. Although the interven tion reduced alcohol consumption at six-month follow-up, intervention and c ontrol groups made similar numbers of outpatient visits (M = 17.7vs.18.3, r espectively; p = .47), were equally likely to be hospitalized (21.2% vs. 22 .0%; p = .81), and, among those hospitalized, had similar lengths of stay ( 4.7 vs. 66 days; p = .37). Although brief interventions to reduce hazardous drinking may potentially reduce medical care utilization, more evidence is needed to substantiate their practicality and cost-effectiveness.