A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial of primary care-based facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website (EFAR-FVG): preliminary results

ORAL PRESENTATION Open Access A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial of primary care-based facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website (EFAR-FVG): preliminary results Pierluigi Struzzo1,2*, Roberto Della Vedova1, Donatella Ferrante2, Nicholas Freemantle3, Charilaos Lygidakis4, Francesco Marcatto2, Emanuele Scafato5, Francesca Scafuri1, Costanza Tersar1, Paul Wallace6 From INEBRIA 12th Congress, Atlanda, GA, USA. 24-25 September 2015 Background The effectiveness of brief interventions for risky drinkers by GPs is well documented [1]. However, implementa-tion levels remain low. Facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website offers an alternative to standard face-to-face intervention, but it is unclear whether it is as effective [2]. This study evaluates whether online brief intervention, through GP facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website for risky drinkers, is not inferior to the face-to-face brief intervention conducted by GPs. Material and methods In a northern Italy region participating GPs actively encouraged all patients age 18 attending their practice, to access an online screening website based on AUDIT-C [3]. Those screening positive underwent a baseline assessment with the AUDIT-10 [4] and EQ-5D [5] ques-tionnaires and subsequently, were randomly assigned to receive either online counselling on the alcohol reduc-tion website (intervention) or face-to-face intervention based on the brief motivational interview [6] by their GP (control). Follow-up took place at 3 and 12 months and the outcome was calculated on the basis of the pro-portion of risky drinkers in each group according to the AUDIT-10. Results More than 50% (n= 3974) of the patients who received facilitated access logged-on to the website and com-pleted the AUDIT-C. Just under 20% (n = 718) screened positive and 94% (n= 674) of them completed the base-line questionnaires and were randomized. Of the 310 patients randomized to the experimental Internet inter-vention, 90% (n = 278) logged-on to the site. Of the 364 patients of the control group, 72% (263) were seen by their GP. A follow-up rate of 94% was achieved at 3 months. Conclusions The offer of GP facilitated access to an alcohol reduc-tion website appears to be an effective way of identifying risky drinkers and enabling them to receive brief intervention. A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial of primary care-based facilitated access to an alcohol reduction website (EFAR-FVG): preliminary results. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282849260_A_randomized_controlled_non-inferiority_trial_of_primary_care-based_facilitated_access_to_an_alcohol_reduction_website_%28EFAR-FVG%29_preliminary_results#full-text [accessed Oct 15, 2015].