Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Brief Alcohol Interventions: Do Counsellors' and Patients' Communication Characteristics Predict Change?
Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on October 17, 2007


To identify communication characteristics of patients and counsellors during brief alcohol intervention (BAI) which predict changes in alcohol consumption 12 months later.

Patient communication characteristics (ability to change) during BAI significantly predicted the weekly drinking quantity in the multiple linear regression model. There were significant differences for some of the counsellor skills in bivariate analyses but not in the multiple regression model adjusting for patients' talk characteristics. Changes in heavy drinking showed no significant association with patient or counsellor skills in the multiple linear regression model.

Findings indicate that the more the patient expresses ability to change during the intervention, the more weekly alcohol use decreases. The role of the counsellor during the interaction, and influence on the outcomes was not clearly established. Implications for BAI and related research are discussed.

Read Full Abstract

Request Reprint E-Mail: Jacques.Gaume@chuv.ch

_________________________________________________________________


at