Globally, alcohol causes over 1.8 million deaths annually.  In low and middle-income countries, alcohol use is rapidly increasing, but factors influencing alcohol use and approaches to reduce alcohol-related harm are largely unknown.  Our previous work has shown that 30% of patients presenting with injuries to Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) Emergency Department (ED) in Moshi, Tanzania had consumed alcohol prior to their injury. These patients deemed as “harmful alcohol users”  could benefit from an intervention — a brief negotiational interview to reduce alcohol use and harm. We developed and tested a culturally-appropriate brief negotiational interview in Tanzania. The intervention, utilizing motivational interviewing principles, is a one-time, 15-minute, practitioner-led discussion of safe drinking behaviors, and negotiation of changes in alcohol use.  Aim1: Define patients, families, and healthcare providers’ current perspectives on alcohol use. Using surveys and focus groups with patients, family members, and healthcare providers, we defined current alcohol use practices and obstacles to alcohol reduction. Aim 2: Develop a culturally-appropriate nurse-delivered brief negotiational interview (BNI) utilizing motivational interviewing, to be delivered in the KCMC ED. We iteratively developed and improved BNI in order to ensure adherence to the widely accepted FRAMES model of motivational interviewing. Aim 3: Conduct a pilot trial of the intervention. Feasibility of study procedures, patient acceptability of the intervention and trial, and patient enrollment and retention will be tested in a pilot randomized pragmatic clinical trial.

Start Date: 09/23/2015
End Date: 06/30/2020
Grant: K01 TW010000 (FIC NIH HHS)

Complete publications list available at PubMed

Main Topics

Injuries, Substance use