The Effects of Group Education for Heavy Drinkers on the Improvement of Drinking Behavior.
- Author:
Nam Kyou BAE
1
;
Jong Sung KIM
;
Jin Gyu JUNG
Author Information
1. Korean National Health Insurance Corporation and Graduate School of Public Health, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
heavy drinker;
AUDIT-K;
group education
- MeSH:
Case Management;
Drinking;
Drinking Behavior;
Humans;
Male;
National Health Programs;
Physicians, Primary Care;
Temperance
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine
2008;29(1):34-40
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The present study purposed to execute group temperance education for heavy drinkers, and to examine how much the participants' drinking behavior is improved. METHODS: We ran a drinking class composed of 4 sessions of group temperance education with 40 male heavy drinkers selected through the case management program of the National Health Insurance Corporation, and compared their drinking behavior before, right after, and 12 weeks after the class. RESULTS: The mean (SD) drinks per week was 4.8 (1.8) before the drinking class, 3.3 (2.3) (P<0.001) right after the completion of the class, and 3.6 (2.2) (P<0.001) 12 weeks after the class, showing a significant decrease. The mean (SD) alcohol intake per drink also decreased significantly from 14.4 (15.6) drinks before the drinking class to 9.3 (15.5) (P<0.001) right after the completion of the class and to 12.0 (16.6) (P<0.001) 12 weeks after the class. The mean (SD) alcohol use disorder identification test score improved significantly from 27.7 (6.3) before the drinking class to 17.8 (11.1) (P<0.001) right after the completion of the class and 20.5 (8.8) (P<0.001) 12 weeks after the class. The number of heavy drinkers decreased significantly from 40 (100.0%) before the drinking class to 26 (65.0%) right after the completion of the class and 28 (70.0%) 12 weeks after the class (P<0.001), and the number of binge drinkers also decreased significantly from 40 (100.0%) before the drinking class to 27 (67.5%) right after the completion of the class and 28 (70.0%) 12 weeks after the class (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that group temperance education by primary care physicians improved heavy drinkers' drinking behavior.
