A cluster randomised controlled trial of alcohol screening and brief interventions in probation services

ISRCTN ISRCTN19160244
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19160244
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
10/03/2008
Registration date
25/04/2008
Last edited
17/08/2018
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Study website

Contact information

Prof Colin Drummond
Scientific

Section of Alcohol Research
National Addiction Centre, PO48
Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry
Institute of Psychiatry
King's College London
4 Windsor Walk
London
SE5 8BB
United Kingdom

Email colin.drummond@iop.kcl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designCluster randomised controlled trial.
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeNot Specified
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA cluster randomised controlled trial of alcohol screening and brief interventions in probation services
Study acronymSIPS-CJS
Study objectives1. To conduct a pragmatic multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial of screening and brief interventions for hazardous and harmful drinkers in a probation setting in three English regions
2. To compare the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a Client Information Leaflet (CIL) with simple structured advice conducted by offender managers (Tier 1) and referral to an alcohol health worker for brief lifestyle counselling (Tier 2) in clients with hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption identified by universal screening
3. To assess the relative impact of the three intervention strategies on alcohol screening and brief intervention activity in a probation setting
4. To identify the attitudinal, practical, skill, resource, and reinforcing factors that predict successful implementation of screening and brief intervention in probation
5. To identify the optimal method of alcohol screening in probation
6. To assess the relative impact of the three intervention strategies on uptake of alcohol services, including an alcohol helpline
Ethics approval(s)Northern & Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee (ref: 08/H0903/2 21/02/2008)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedHazardous alcohol use
Intervention1. Control condition: Offender managers will be trained to carry out screening and give all clients screened positive for hazardous or harmful alcohol use a Client Information Leaflet (CIL). Training will be carried out by experienced trainers for criminal justice staff in seminars and individual training as appropriate to the probation setting. Trainers will be specialist staff from local alcohol agencies or an alcohol health worker.

2. Simple structured advice condition: Offender managers allocated to this condition will be trained to carry out screening and deliver up to 5 min structured brief advice for hazardous and harmful drinkers presenting to their setting, using the Drink-Less brief intervention materials (level 1). Clients in this condition will also receive a CIL as above. Training will be carried out by experienced trainers for criminal justice staff in seminars and individual training as appropriate to the criminal justice setting. Trainers will be specialist staff from local alcohol agencies or an alcohol health worker. Each probation site will have an allocated coordinator who will champion screening and brief intervention and provide ongoing support and supervision for other staff.

3. Alcohol Health Worker (AHW) condition: All clients that screened positive by offender managers for hazardous/harmful drinking will be given a CIL and a 5 min structured brief advice as above, and referred to an AHW for a longer intervention. The AHW will be experienced in carrying out alcohol assessment and brief interventions. The AHW will carry out a brief lifestyle counselling intervention lasting for 15-20 minutes. The AHW will also be responsible for training and supporting probation staff in implementing screening and referral over the course of the project.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureAlcohol Use Disorders Identification Test at 6 and 12 months
Secondary outcome measuresThe following will be assessed at 6 and 12 months:
1. Health related quality of life, EuroQol (EQ-5D)
2. Alcohol problems questionnaire
3. Service utilisation
4. Staff attitudinal measures
Overall study start date01/04/2008
Completion date31/03/2009

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants435
Key inclusion criteria1. Probation client scoring positive on either the Fast Alcohol Screen Test (FAST) or the Single Alcohol Screening Questionnaire (M-SASQ)
2. Alert and orientated
3. Aged 18 or over
4. Resident in England
5. Able to speak, read and write in English sufficiently well to complete study questionnaires
6. Not intoxicated
7. Not suffering with a serious mental health problem
Key exclusion criteria1. Already in contact with specialist alcohol services
2. Already included in the study or other alcohol research studies
3. Those requesting tertiary specialist help with alcohol problems

All excluded clients will be given information on where to obtain help for alcohol problems, and will receive a health information leaflet with the Drinkline number and website address.
Date of first enrolment01/04/2008
Date of final enrolment31/03/2009

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Section of Alcohol Research
London
SE5 8BB
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry (UK)
University/education

National Addiction Centre, PO48
Division of Psychological Medicine and Psychiatry
4 Windsor Walk
London
SE5 8BB
England
United Kingdom

Email paolo.deluca@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Website http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0220mzb33

Funders

Funder type

Government

This trial is funded by the UK Department of Health as part of the government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England (2004) (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 18/11/2009 Yes No
Results article results 09/10/2012 Yes No

Editorial Notes

17/08/2018: Publication reference added