Changing patients' health beliefs to improve compliance with alcoholism treatment: a controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to examine whether changing the health beliefs of alcoholic patients entering treatment would improve their retention in treatment. A control group received the conventional range of treatment options available at an alcoholism clinic whereas an experimental group received, in addition, an opportunity to attend group meetings where attempts were made to modify their health beliefs. Although this intervention resulted in changes in patients' health beliefs, the subsequent difference between groups in average length of stay in treatment was not statistically significant. Explanations for the only modest success of the belief modification strategy are proposed and implications for the Health Belief Model and patient compliance with alcoholism treatment are discussed.