 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Bonnie G McRee, MPH, Janice A. Vendetti, MPH, Thomas F. Babor, PhD, MPH, Howard Bailit, PhD, DMD, and Donna M. Damon. Department of Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-6325, 8606795485, mcree@up.uchc.edu
Vital Signs, funded by the Donaghue Medical Research Foundation, is a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of brief counseling interventions (BI’s) for smokers and at-risk drinkers when delivered separately and in combined forms. Patients receiving care in a large University dental clinic were asked to complete a lifestyle screening survey that included questions on alcohol and tobacco use. Adults who were both smokers and at-risk drinkers were randomized into one of four experimental conditions: a smoking-only BI group, a drinking-only BI group, a combined smoking and drinking BI group, or a two-month wait-list control group. Patients assigned to one of the three active conditions received an immediate brief intervention prior to their dental appointment. Nicotine replacement therapy was offered to participants in the smoking cessation groups. Preliminary results (ANCOVA) on 175 participants indicate significant time by treatment group interactions for each of three primary outcome measures. Compared to the control group, intervention group participants significantly reduced both the number of days they drank per week and the number of drinks per drinking day regardless of the treatment intervention received. Intervention group participants also significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked per day regardless of their treatment group assignment, compared to the control group. Preliminary results suggest that smokers who are also at-risk drinkers tend to reduce both behaviors when one or both are the subject of an office-based intervention. Final analyses will be presented on all participants (n=300). The study will be completed in April of 2003.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Tobacco, Alcohol Use
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Connecticut Department of Community Medicine and Health Care
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.