Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment and blinding of outcome assessement in half of the studies).
A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 69 studies with a total of 33 642 subjects. Most interventions were delivered in general practice or emergency care settings. Participants receiving brief intervention reduced their alcohol consumption compared to the control group (mean difference: -20 grams/week; table T1). Sub-group analysis confirmed the benefit of brief intervention both in men and in women. Extended intervention when compared with brief interventionhad no greater reduction in alcohol consumption although findings were imprecise (MD 2 g/week, 95% CI -42 to 45; 3 studies, n=552).
| Outcome (at 12 months) | Relative effect (95% CI) | Risk with control | Risk with Brief intervention (95% CI) | №of participants (studies) Quality of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of drinking (g/week) | - | 238 g/week | MD 20.08 g/week lower (28.36 lower to 11.81 lower) | 15 197 (34) |
| Frequency of drinking (no. binges/wk) | - | 0.98 binges/week | MD 0.08 binges/week lower (0.14 lower to 0.02 lower) | 6 946 (15) |
| Frequency of drinking (no. days drinking/wk) | - | 2.73 drinking days/week | MD 0.13 drinking days/week lower (0.23 lower to 0.04 lower) | 5 469 (11) |
| Intensity of drinking (g/drinking day) | - | 55 g/drinking day | MD 0.18 g/drinking day lower (3.09 lower to 2.73 higher) | 3 128 (10) |
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