TY - JOUR PY - 2004// TI - Brief interventions for hazardous drinkers delivered in primary care are equally effective in men and women JO - Addiction A1 - Ballesteros, Javier A1 - González-Pinto, Asunción A1 - Querejeta, Imanol A1 - Ariño, Julen SP - 103 EP - 108 VL - 99 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Despite the accumulated evidence on the efficacy of brief interventions in hazardous drinkers some ambiguity remains regarding their differential effectiveness by gender. METHODS: Meta-analysis of independent studies conducted in primary health care settings with a follow-up of 6-12 months which report results separately by gender. Two outcome measures were selected: the quantity of typical weekly alcohol consumption and the frequency of drinkers who reported consumption below hazardous levels after the intervention. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. The standardized effect sizes for the reduction of alcohol consumption were similar in men (d=- 0.25; 95% CI=- 0.34 to -0.17) and women (d=- 0.26; 95% CI=- 0.38 to - 0.13). The odds ratios (OR) for the frequency of individuals who drank below harmful levels were also similar (four studies; OR for men=2.32; 95% CI=1.78-2.93; OR for women=2.31; 95% CI=1.60-3.17). The difference between genders was negligible. CONCLUSION: Our results support the equality of outcomes among men and women achieved by brief interventions for hazardous alcohol consumption in primary care settings.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0965-2140 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -