Motivational Interviews to Reduce Alcohol
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Pilot Study of Nurse Led Motivational Interviews in Secondary Care Outpatient Units to Reduce Alcohol Intake
IRAS ID
338437
Contact name
D. Stuart McPherson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 2 days
Research summary
We would like to find out if patients would reduce their alcohol intake if nurse led motivational interviews are offered following their hospital outpatient appointment with a Liver Specialist.
Currently, drinking harmful levels of alcohol causes more deaths, ill health and disability in 15–49-year-olds. Alcohol causes many hospital admissions, cancer and other illnesses. Data from Public Health England shows that admissions to hospital are higher in Northeast England, than anywhere else in the country.
When a patient has a history of alcohol excess and deranged liver blood tests, they are referred to see a liver specialist in their closest hospital. The Dr will encourage the patient to reduce their alcohol intake and may suggest that the patient self refers to a community addiction centre. This can be difficult for many patients if they don’t know what the acceptable limits for alcohol intake are, or if they are drinking for mental health or social reasons.
Motivational interviewing is used to support and motivate people to change their own behaviour. The specially trained nurse will develop a relationship with the patient to develop goals, celebrate successes and develop strategies to work through problems. This form of counselling is used to treat patients admitted to hospital and by community addiction centres.
We would like to approach patients attending appointments in the liver clinics in a hospital in Northeast England.
The patients will be offered weekly Motivational interviews over a 12-week period as an outpatient or through telephone calls.
The patients will complete questionnaires at the start of the study to ensure safety and to measure patient alcohol intake. These will be monitored 4 weekly to gather data for analysis. On completion the patients will be asked to evaluate the 12-week program to inform future programs.REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EM/0271
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion