Study of a counseling strategy to reduce harmful alcohol use and improve the health of women receiving primary health care

INTERVENTION: This is a two‐arm, single‐blind randomized controlled trial in which participants were randomly allocated using the Research Electronic Data Capture platform without interference from the research team during the randomization process. The intervention group consisted of 79 women with hazardous or harmful alcohol use receiving care in primary health care services who received one individual Brief Intervention session by telephone lasting approximately 20 minutes, delivered by a previously trained researcher and including personalized feedback on alcohol consumption, counseling, enhancement of motivation to change, goal setting, and strategies to reduce alcohol use. The control group consisted of 72 women with the same characteristics who received only personalized feedback on the results of the alcohol consumption assessment without receiving the Brief Intervention. All participants were followed according to the study protocol using the same assessment instruments at all follow‐up evaluations, which were conducted by a researcher different from the one who delivered the intervention in order to minimize assessment bias CONDITION: Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, Harmful use ; Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohoL PRIMARY OUTCOME: Expected Outcome 1: It was expected that women receiving the Brief Intervention would demonstrate a greater reduction in hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption than those in the control group, as measured by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores throughout the follow‐up period Observed Outcome 1: A significant reduction in Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores was observed in the intervention group throughout the 180‐day follow‐up period, whereas the control group showed an increase in scores over the same period. No significant effect of the group alone was observed; however, significant effects of time and the interaction between group and time were identified, indicating that the effect of the intervention changed over the follow‐up period SECONDARY OUTCOME: Expected Outcome 2: It was expected to identify factors associated with changes in alcohol consumption patterns among participants during the follow‐up period Observed Outcome 2: Among the variables evaluated, only race and household income were significantly associated with changes in Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores, suggesting that socioeconomic factors influenced alcohol consumption patterns among the participating women INCLUSION CRITERIA: Women aged 18 years or older; hazardous or harmful alcohol use identified by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; updated telephone contact information; residents within the coverage area of the Primary Health Care Unit; willingness to participate in follow‐up conducted by the research team