Table 2 Key findings for the effectiveness of interventions for alcohol consumption outcomes

Barata et al., (2017) [18]

SBIRT (no specified duration or sessions)

Reduction in number of drink days and number of units per drink day

16/35

• Reduction in both the control and intervention groups

9/16

• Higher reduction in intervention group compared to control group

13/35

• Significant differences between control and intervention groups

17/35

• No intervention effect for reduction in alcohol consumption

Diestelkamp et al., (2016) [19]

BI (max 60 min); max 3 sessions; 1 in ED

Alcohol consumption

7/8

• Reductions in alcohol consumption regardless of form of care

2/8

• Significant differences across conditions

2/8

• Between-group differences in reductions of alcohol use for sub-groups only (those testing positive for referral to alcohol treatment at baseline; females)

Elzerbi et al., (2015) [20]

BI (max 30 min); max 4 sessions

Grams of alcohol consumed per week at 6 and 12 months

8

• Statistically significant difference in reducing grams of alcohol consumed per week between intervention and control groups at 6 and 12 months

Elzerbi et al., (2017) [21]

BI (max 45 min); max 4 sessions

Grams of alcohol consumed per week at less than or equal to 5, 6 and 12 months

23

• No effect at 6 or 12 months when combining injury and non-injury studies

Targeted injury studies:

• Small effect in favour of the intervention compared to the control at 6 months

• No effect of the intervention compared to the control at 12 monthsNon-injury-specific studies:

• Effect in favour of the intervention compared to the control at 6 and 12 months

Kodadek et al., (2020) [22]

SBIRT (no specified duration or sessions)

Alcohol consumption

2/7

• Statistically significant decrease in alcohol consumption following intervention

1/7

• Non-statistically significant lower alcohol consumption in intervention group

2/7

• Lower alcohol consumption in intervention and control groups

2/7

• Decreased alcohol consumption in the intervention group, but no control group

Kohler & Hofmann (2015) [23]

Motivational interviewing (no specified duration or sessions)

Changes in alcohol consumption (drinking frequency or drinking quantity)

Systematic review:

1/6

• No significant change in drinking frequency/quantity regardless of intervention used

5/6

• Young people consumed significantly less alcohol regardless of use of MI

3/6

• Lowest amount of drinking at 3- or 6-month follow-up; rising consumption post 6 months

Meta-analysis:

6

• MI reduced alcohol consumption at least as much as a control intervention

• Frequency of drinking was significantly lower in the MI groups

• MI showed no advantage over control interventions in reducing drinking quantity

• MI is more efficacious than other interventions in reducing drinking frequency (USA studies only)

Landy et al., (2016) [24]

BI (5- 60 min); single session; no additional booster sessions

Alcohol consumption: reduction in number of units of alcohol per occasion (17 studies) / reduction in frequency of drinking/binge drinking (8 studies)

At 3 months:

9

• All studies found a significant reduction in alcohol consumption

2/9

• Significantly greater reduction in alcohol consumption in the BI group compared to control group

3/9

• Significant reduction in alcohol consumption in the intervention and control groups, no significant differences between group

1/9

• Significant reductions in alcohol consumption, but no control group

At 6 months:

3/17

• Significantly greater reduction in alcohol consumption in the BI group compared to control group

3/17

• Significant reduction in alcohol consumption in the intervention and control groups, no significant differences between groups

2/17

• Significant reductions in alcohol consumption in BI group, but no control/comparison group

2/17

• No significant difference between the BI and control groups

1/17

• No significant differences between three conditions (patient leaflet, brief advice (5 min) and brief lifestyle counselling (20 min)

1/17

• Fewer participants in BI group met criteria for at-risk drinking comparted to control group

At 12 months:

4/14

• Significantly greater reduction in alcohol consumption in the BI group compared to control group

7/14

• No significant difference between the BI and control groups

1/14

• No differences between BI group and group receiving extended counselling

McGinnes et al., (2016) [25]

Ultra BI; (10 min or less)

Quantity of alcohol consumed

Frequency of alcohol use

Binge drinking

6/13

• Significant reduction in the quantity of alcohol consumed

0/13

• No studies showed a reduction in frequency of alcohol use

3/13

• Significant reduction in binge drinking

Newton et al., (2013) [26]

BI (time limited); 1 or 2 sessions

Frequency of alcohol use

Targeted BIs:

1/9

• MI and standard care favoured at different time points, no statistically significant group differences

1/9

• MI group greater reduction in alcohol use compared to comparison group, no statistically significant group differences

1/9

• Youth attending post-ED community service after receiving BI or standard care reported a greater reduction in alcohol consumption compared to those who did not attend the post-ED community service

Universal BIs:

1/9

• MI, handouts and standard care favoured at different time points, no statistically significant group differences

3/9

• Trends observed in high-risk groups (alcohol misuse at baseline) for reducing drinking frequency, high volume drinking days and maximum number of alcohol-based drinks per day

1/9

• Effect on alcohol misuse and binge drinking in a subset of patients who reported previous drinking and driving behaviours

Schmidt et al., (2016) [27]

BI (5–40 min); 1 to 4 sessions

Quantity (alcohol consumption per week/month), intensity (alcohol consumption per day/occasion) and number of heavy drinking episodes at 3, 6 and 12 months

22

• Significant reduction in alcohol use (quantity) in the intervention group at 12 months

14

• Significant reduction in alcohol use (intensity) in the intervention group, greatest at 3 month follow up

18

• Slightly higher reductions in the number of heavy drinking episodes (binge drinking) in the intervention group at 6 and 12 months

Taggart et al., (2013) [29]

Standardised treatment to reduce alcohol intake

Changes in alcohol intake patterns

7/7

• All studies found reductions in alcohol intake patterns in the intervention group; some between-group differences were not statistically significant

Yuma-Guerrero et al., (2012) [30]

BI (no specified duration or sessions)

Alcohol consumption

6/7

• Positive alcohol consumption effects for all participants regardless of study condition

3/7

• No differences between the intervention and control groups on alcohol consumption

4/7

• Significant intervention effect; no specific intervention was decisively effective

2/7

• Most positive findings only included patients aged 18 and older