Compliance rate and associated factors for entering an alcohol brief intervention treatment programme

The study aim was to ascertain the compliance rate and to compare associated factors among heavy drinkers willing and unwilling to enter an alcohol brief intervention treatment programme. Patients aged 20-60 years visiting five primary healthcare clinics for any reason were both asked to complete a health questionnaire and interviewed to identify early phase heavy drinkers and to collect sociodemographic and health data. About half of the heavy drinkers (487/1011) complied with a recommendation for brief intervention. Gender, age, drinking variables, smoking, and exercise were associated with compliance. Women and young adults are subgroups of heavy drinkers whose compliance was lower than others and special attention should be given to them when planning brief intervention strategies.