Composite of all drinking-related outcomes for brief interventions for reducing alcohol drinking
| Patient group | Comparison | Follow up | Number of studies | Effect size (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| †Effect size favours brief intervention. | ||||
| ‡Not significant. | ||||
| §Effect size favours extended treatment. | ||||
| Not seeking treatment | Brief intervention v control | ≤ 3 months | 4 | 0.30 (0.08 to 0.52)† |
| > 3 to 6 months | 11 | 0.14 (0.08 to 0.21)† | ||
| > 6 to 12 months | 23 | 0.24 (0.18 to 0.30)† | ||
| > 12 months | 5 | 0.13 (–0.01 to 0.26)†‡ | ||
| Seeking treatment | Brief intervention v extended treatment | ≤ 3 months | 7 | –0.03 (–0.22 to 0.17)‡ |
| > 3 to 6 months | 7 | 0.17 (–0.02 to 0.36)‡§ | ||
| > 6 to 12 months | 10 | 0.03 (–0.10 to 0.15)‡§ | ||
| > 12 months | 10 | 0.01 (–0.12 to 0.13)‡§ | ||