BRAISH - a feasibility study of alcohol brief intervention in a sexual health clinic

ISRCTN	ISRCTN19452424
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19452424
Protocol serial number	N/A
Sponsor	Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust (UK)
Funder	National Institute for Health Research (NIHR RfPB PB-PG-1208-18156) (UK)

Submission date: 12/08/2014
Registration date: 02/10/2014
Last edited: 13/03/2020

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

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

Contact information

Dr Harindra Veerakathy
Scientific

Genitourinary Medicine Department
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Southwick Road
Portsmouth
PO6 3LY
United Kingdom

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Individual randomised feasibility study to test screening, recruitment, baseline procedures, intervention process and follow-up
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	Assessing feasibility and acceptability of a BRief intervention for risky Alcohol consumption In Sexual Health clinic attendees: a randomised controlled trial
Study acronym	BRAISH
Study objectives	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(s)	NRES Committee South Central - Southampton A, 01/12/2010, ref. 10/HO502/76
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Alcohol misuse in people attending a sexual health clinic
Intervention	Alcohol brief intervention plus leaflet vs leaflet (usual care)
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	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
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Completion date	31/10/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Other
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	215
Key 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
Key exclusion criteria	None
Date of first enrolment	01/05/2011
Date of final enrolment	31/10/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom
England

Study participating centre

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Portsmouth
PO6 3LY
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	results	01/04/2016		Yes	No
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

13/03/2020: Internal review.