Evaluating the Effectiveness of Screening and Brief Counseling to Reduce Risky Alcohol Use Among Adults at Public Hospitals in Tigray

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Screening and Brief-Intervention SBI in reducing unhealthy alcohol consumption among conflict-affected hospital outpatients in Tigray. It addresses a gap in evidence for interventions targeting post-war risky alcohol use in low- and middle-income countries, particularly Ethiopia. The study focuses on public hospital outpatients with moderate alcohol consumption to inform policy and health programs. Participants will be screened using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test AUDIT. Those scoring between 8 and 19 will be divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group will receive a single session of simple advice, brief counseling, and a health brochure, followed by alcohol consumption screenings at 6 and 12 months. The control group will only undergo screening at these follow-up points without receiving the intervention. During the study, data will be collected through face-to-face interviews and securely managed. Participants will be followed for 12 months with assessments at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months to compare alcohol consumption levels. Statistical methods will analyze differences between groups and the interventions effect. The total participation period spans from screening to the final 12-month follow-up, with ongoing monitoring of alcohol use changes.

Screening and Brief-Intervention of Post-war Alcohol Consumption in Public Hospital Outpatients