Change over time in alcohol consumption in control groups in brief intervention studies: Systematic review and meta-regression study.
Jenkins, R.J. McAlaney, John McCambridge, J.
Jenkins, R.J.
McAlaney, John
McCambridge, J.
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2009
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Abstract
Reactivity to assessment has attracted recent attention in the brief alcohol intervention literature. This
systematic review sought to examine the nature of change in alcohol consumption over time in control
groups in brief intervention studies. Primary studies were identified from existing reviews published in
English language, peer-reviewed journals between 1995 and 2005. Change in alcohol consumption and
selected study-level characteristics for each primary study were extracted. Consumption change data
were pooled in random effects models and meta-regression was used to explore predictors of change.
Eleven review papers reported the results of 44 individual studies. Twenty-six of these studies provided
data suitable for quantitative study. Extreme heterogeneity was identified and the extent of observed
reduction in consumption over time was greater in studies undertaken in Anglophone countries, with
single gender study participants, and without special targeting by age. Heterogeneity was reduced but
was still substantial in a sub-set of 15 general population studies undertaken in English language countries.
The actual content of the control group procedure itself was not predictive of reduction in drinking, nor
were a range of other candidate variables including setting, the exclusion of dependent drinkers, the
collection of a biological sample at follow-up, and duration of study. Further investigations may yield
novel insights into the nature of behaviour change with potential to inform brief interventions design.
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Jenkins, Richard J., McAlaney, John and McCambridge, Jim (2009). Change over time in alcohol consumption in control groups in brief intervention studies: Systematic review and meta-regression study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Vol. 100, No. 1-2, pp. 107 - 114.
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