Medical-surgical patients with untreated hazardous drinking: Randomized controlled trial of the DO-MoST intervention to improve health outcomes over 12-month follow-up.

Timko C, Macia K, Lewis M, Lor MC, Blonigen D, Jannausch M, Ilgen M. Medical-surgical patients with untreated hazardous drinking: Randomized controlled trial of the DO-MoST intervention to improve health outcomes over 12-month follow-up. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2024 May 1; 258:111259.

Related HSR&D Project(s)

• RCS 19-333 – Research Career Scientist Award
• RCS 23-080 – HSR&D Research Career Scientist Award

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Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: High prevalence and harmful consequences of hazardous drinking among medical-surgical patients underscore the importance of intervening with drinking to improve patients'' health. This study evaluated a novel intervention, "Drinking Options - Motivate, Shared Decisions, Telemonitor" (DO-MoST). METHODS: In a randomized design, 155 medical-surgical patients with untreated hazardous drinking were assigned to enhanced usual care or DO-MoST, and followed 3, 6, and 12 months later. We conducted intent-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. RESULTS: For the primary outcome, percent days of alcohol abstinence in the past 30 days, intent-to-treat analyses did not find superior effectiveness of DO-MoST. However, per-protocol analyses found abstinence increased between 3 and 12 months among participants assigned to DO-MoST who engaged with the intervention (n = 46). Among DO-MoST-assigned participants who did not engage (n = 27), abstinence stayed stable during follow-up. Group comparisons showed an advantage on abstinence for Engaged compared to Non-Engaged participants on change over time. Intent-to-treat analyses found that DO-MoST was superior to usual care on the secondary outcome of physical health at 12 months; per-protocol analyses found that Engaged DO-MoST-assignees had better physical health at 12 months than Non-Engaged DO-MoST-assignees. DO-MoST-assignees had lower odds of receiving substance use care during follow-up than usual care-assignees. DISCUSSION: Patients engaged in DO-MoST showed a greater degree of abstinence and better physical health relative to the non-engaged or usual care group. DO-MoST may be a source of alcohol help in itself rather than only a linkage intervention. Work is needed to increase DO-MoST engagement among medical-surgical patients with untreated hazardous drinking.