Pilot randomised controlled trial of electronic screening and brief intervention (e-SBI) to increase uptake of referral for specialist care among hospital outpatients with possible alcohol dependence

The intervention comprises 5-10 minutes of electronic motivational assessment and personalised feedback on alcohol consumption via an iPad. Specifically, participants in the intervention group complete: the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); questions concerning the largest number of standard drinks consumed on one occasion in the last four weeks, the duration of the drinking episode in hours, and body weight for the purpose of estimating their blood alcohol concentration; and the 10-item Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ). On completion of the above, participants in the intervention group will receive personalised feedback comprising the following: (i) the patient’s AUDIT score and guidance on its meaning; (ii) an estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for their heaviest episode in the previous month with information on the behavioural and physiological sequelae of various BACs, and traffic crash relative risk; (iii) estimates of spending per month; (iv) a bar graph comparing episodic consumption with medical recommendations, and that of adults of the same age and gender; (v) a bar graph comparing weekly consumption with medical recommendations, and with adults of the same age and gender; (vi) an LDQ score with an explanation of the associated health risk and information about how to reduce that risk. Further web pages will be presented as options, offering facts about alcohol, tips for reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm, and information as to where medical help and counselling support could be found.