Meta-analysis on the Effectiveness of Alcohol Screening and Brief Interventions for Patients in Emergency Care Settings

Introduction: Despite ambiguous evidence for screening and brief alcohol intervention (ASBI) effectiveness in emergency departments (ED), ambition for their widespread implementation continues to grow. To clarify whether such an extension of ASBI is justifiable, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence, including moderator assessment. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies published January 2002-July 2013. Primary outcome measures were change in alcohol consumption in 4 categories (drinks per week/month, drinks per day, number of binges, exceeding recommen…