Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The excessive drinking of alcohol, or binge drinking, is a major social and health issue in the UK. It can lead to having sex with a lot of different partners and is often the cause of unintended pregnancy. Binge drinking in young people is a key part of the UK's drinking culture and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) are most often found in this age group. A study at a sexual health clinic in Portsmouth found that many people who came to the clinic with STIs were heavy drinkers, with 87% admitting to binge drinking with an average intake of alcohol of 20 units in a heavy night (the equivalent of 10 cans of beer or lager). Giving advice to people who have been identified to be drinking heavily could reduce the problem of binge drinking. An Australian study found a reduction in drinking when it was tried in a sexual health clinic. This study aims to find out if it is possible and effective to give advice to adults attending a sexual health clinic in the UK.
Who can participate?
People aged 16 and over attending the sexual health clinic for the first time.
What does the study involve?
Participants were screened for alcohol misuse and were asked if they were ready to take part in this study. They were randomly allocated to one of two groups: one received a brief intervention (BI), a short 5-minute discussion on alcohol as part of the clinic visit, and the other group received usual care (given an alcohol health-promoting leaflet during their appointment). All participants were followed up after 6 months to see if they benefitted.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Patients may benefit from reducing their alcohol usage and risky sexual behaviour.
Where is the study run from?
The study was run from the Portsmouth sexual health clinic, UK.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2011 to October 2012.
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), UK.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Harindra Veerakathy
veerakathy.harindra@solent.nhs.uk
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Assessing feasibility and acceptability of a BRief intervention for risky Alcohol consumption In Sexual Health clinic attendees: a randomised controlled trial
Acronym
BRAISH
Study hypothesis
To assess the feasibility and acceptability of screening attendees at a sexual health clinic (SHC) for alcohol misuse and delivering a brief intervention (BI) and to explore the effect on drinking and sexual behaviour.
Ethics approval
NRES Committee South Central - Southampton A, 01/12/2010, ref. 10/HO502/76
Study design
Individual randomised feasibility study to test screening, recruitment, baseline procedures, intervention process and follow-up
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Alcohol misuse in people attending a sexual health clinic
Intervention
Alcohol brief intervention plus leaflet vs leaflet (usual care)
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Feasibility study, not powered on single outcome but included AUDIT score, alcohol units/week, binge drinking frequency, new sexual partner frequency, frequency of drunkenness and regretted sex
Timepoints: 6 weeks and 6 months after randomisation
Method: Questionnaire, self-reported measures of alcohol use and sexual risk behaviour
Secondary outcome measures
Not provided at time of registration
Overall trial start date
01/05/2011
Overall trial end date
31/10/2012
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
All attendees aged 16 and over, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender, attending the clinic for the first episode of care were recruited. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic presentations were included
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Other
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Feasbility study, recruited n=215
Participant exclusion criteria
None
Recruitment start date
01/05/2011
Recruitment end date
31/10/2012
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Portsmouth
PO6 3LY
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
Sponsor details
Research and Development Department
1st Floor
Gloucester House
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Cosham
Portsmouth
PO63LY
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR RfPB PB-PG-1208-18156) (UK)
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2015 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26259896