INTERVENTION BY AN ALCOHOL HEALTH WORKER IN AN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Abstract

We have evaluated the effect of brief intervention by an alcohol health worker on alcohol consumption by 202 alcohol misusing patients. For 71 patients where questionnaires were successfully completed, 46 (65%) reported drinking less alcohol at 6 months as opposed to six (8.5%) who reported drinking more. The overall reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.001), with a mean reduction of 43%.