Health Sciences

AESOPS: the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of opportunistic screening and stepped care interventions for older harzardous alcohol users in primary care

This research study is looking at the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of opportunistic screening and stepped care interventions for older hazardous alcohol users in primary care. The Alcohol Needs Assessment Project estimated that 20% of older people aged =55 years consume alcohol at levels hazardous to their health, which is associated with a wide range of physical, psychological and social problems, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, liver disease and increased risk of a range of cancers.

The Royal College of Physicians estimate that 60% of older people admitted to hospital because of repeated falls, confusion, chest infections and heart failure have undiagnosed alcohol problems. Increased alcohol consumption in older age can also contribute to the onset of dementia and other age related cognitive deficits, Parkinson’s disease, depression and anxiety. Alcohol use is implicated in one third of all suicides in the older population. Stepped care interventions provide a means of delivering more intensive interventions to those who fail to respond to less intensive interventions.

This project will evaluate whether stepped care interventions reduce alcohol consumption, reduce alcohol related problems, improve quality of life and are more cost-effective compared with a minimal intervention.

Funding
Members
Publications

Funding

Funder(s):	NCCHTA
Start Date:	01-Apr-2007
Expiry Date:	31-Mar-2012

Members

Internal staff

External collaborators

S. Coulton
T. Phillips
D. Rumball
A. Hassey
D. Raistrick
G. Tober
E. Kaner

Publications

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of opportunistic screening and stepped care interventions for older harzardous alcohol users in primary care (AESOPS)

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