Publication year: 2011
Source: Addictive Behaviors, In Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available online 29 July 2011
Héctor José, Navarro , Anthony, Shakeshaft , Christopher M., Doran , Dennis J., Petrie
Objective: This paper aims to model General Practitioner (GP) delivered screening and brief intervention (BI), and to identify the costs per additional risky drinker who reduces alcohol consumption to low-risk levels, relative to current practice. Method: A decision model and nine different scenarios were developed to assess outcomes and costs of GP-delivered screening and BI on the potential number of risky drinkers who reduce their alcohol consumption to low-risk levels in10 rural communities in New South Wales, Australia.FindingsBased on evidence from current practice, approximately 19% of all risky drinkers visiting GPs annually would reduce alcohol consumption to low-risk levels, of which 0.7% would…
Highlights: ► Increments in GP’s screening and BI rates can result in cost-effective reductions per additional risky drinkers reducing their drinking. ► If all risky drinkers visiting GPs were screened and received a BI annually, 36% would reduce their drinking. ► 100% screening is associated with the lowest ICER per risky drinker reducing its alcohol consumption relative to current practice. ► If 100% screening was achieved, only 3.6% of risky drinkers would reduce their drinking to low-risk levels from BI. ► 10% and 20% increments in GP screening and BI would achieve reductions for 2.1% and 4.2% risky drinkers respectively.