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Brief intervention for prenatal alcohol use: a randomized trial.
Grace Chang1, Tay K McNamara, E John Orav
1Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Gchang@partners.org
Obstetrics and Gynecology
|May 3, 2005
Summary
A brief intervention significantly reduced prenatal alcohol consumption, especially when partners were involved. This approach is most effective for pregnant women with the highest initial alcohol use.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Prenatal alcohol consumption poses significant risks to fetal development.
- Effective interventions are crucial for reducing alcohol use during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief intervention in decreasing prenatal alcohol consumption.
- To determine if partner involvement enhances the intervention's impact.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 304 pregnant women and their partners.
- A single-session brief intervention was administered to the treatment group.
- Participants were screened using the T-ACE (Tolerance, Annoyed, Cut down, Eye-opener) questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Prenatal alcohol use decreased in both groups post-intervention.
- The brief intervention was most effective for women with the highest initial consumption.
- Partner participation significantly amplified the intervention's positive effects.
Conclusions:
- A brief intervention, particularly when including a partner, is effective in reducing prenatal alcohol consumption.
- Consistent screening and assessment for prenatal alcohol use are recommended.
- Targeting the heaviest drinkers with patient-partner interventions shows promise.