DUTCH COMPREHENSIVELY EXPLORE WEB-BASED ALCOHOL INTERVENTIONS
A new bulletin has collated the latest additions to the Effectiveness Bank documenting the impacts
of a suite of web-based alcohol interventions for Dutch heavy drinking adults. At the lowest level
of intervention intensity and problem severity is a 10-minute brief intervention for risky drinkers.
Stepping up problem and intensity ranges is a four-step cognitive-behavioural intervention (in
respect of which for convenience we repeat an earlier entry). At the apex is the only one to feature
interaction with a therapist, in this case via text-chat over seven sessions, intended to extend
treatment to more problem drinkers than attend face-to-face therapy.
Dutch researchers also reviewed the evidence from their own and other studies, and devised a
computer simulation of the health gains and costs of incorporating these new technologies in a
health care system. Applied to the Netherlands and the tested interventions, it predicted these
would deliver more health per euro than the current alcohol health care system.
Together this work has comprehensively mapped and evaluated internet alcohol intervention
possibilities in a UK-like context. The implication is that while these cannot replace therapists,
they can extend their reach and curb drinking further down the severity/complexity range, at the
level conventionally addressed by brief interventions.
To view the whole bulletin click this link:
http://findings.org.uk/docs/bulletins/Bull_08_05_12.php
or click the links below to view an entry in the bulletin. If clicking does not work, paste the link
in to your web browser address box, being sure to enter the whole address.
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10-MINUTE WEB ALCOHOL CHECK-UP AND ADVICE LEADS 1000s TO CUT BACK
Spending just ten minutes on a drinking feedback and advice web site is leading over 2000 heavy
drinking Dutch men a year to reduce to safer levels was the implication of this randomised trial of
the lowest level of a suite of web-based alcohol interventions developed for the Netherlands.
http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Boon_B_1.txt
*repeat* CBT PROGRAMME FOR HARMFUL DRINKERS PASSES LAB AND REAL-WORLD TESTS
Stepping up to target not just hazardous drinkers but those already likely to be experiencing harm,
a four-step cognitive-behavioural programme tested in a randomised trial and then in real-world
conditions not only can but it seems actually is helping concerned drinkers cut down.
http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Riper_H_5.txt
*updated* TOO SOON TO GET RID OF THE THERAPISTS
At the apex of the Dutch suite was a seven-session internet-based therapy for problem/dependent
drinking conducted via text-chat conversations with a real therapist. Computers can extend their
reach but not replace therapists was one message; on average alcohol intake was cut by nearly
two-thirds, significantly more than after an automated self-help option.
http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Blankers_M_1.txt
*updated* INTERNET SELF-HELP EXTENDS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT OF ALCOHOL INTERVENTIONS
This synthesis of nine relevant studies of non-student adult samples confirmed that
computer-delivered self-help interventions offer a low-cost way to extend the public health impact
of interventions for risky drinkers. Yet to be shown is that they can replace therapists for
severely dependent individuals seeking treatment.
http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Riper_H_6.txt
*updated* ON-LINE ALCOHOL INTERVENTIONS IMPROVE HEALTH CARE VALUE FOR MONEY
As applied to the Netherlands, a computer model applicable as an aid to policymaking in other
countries suggests that national health would improve and/or health care costs be reduced if on-line
alcohol interventions tested in the Netherlands supplemented or partly replaced conventional
alcohol-related care.
http://findings.org.uk/count/downloads/download.php?file=Smit_F_2.txt
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Effectiveness Bank alerts are provided by Drug and Alcohol Findings (http://findings.org.uk) to
alert you to site updates and recent UK-relevant evaluation studies and reviews of drug/alcohol
interventions. Findings is managed by DrugScope, Alcohol Concern and the National Addiction Centre.
The Effectiveness Bank is supported by Alcohol Research UK.
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