Abstract

Background The negative impact of risky use of alcohol on health and well-being of individuals has been well documented. Recent reports reveal an alarming increase in the hazardous and harmful alcohol use worldwide. Brief intervention is increasingly becoming popular over the last decades in reducing harmful and hazardous alcohol use as compared to other psychosocial interventions. Objectives This review critically appraises the results of major systematic reviews related to brief intervention conducted at different settings by various health professionals. Methods Major systematic reviews and clinical trials related to alcohol brief interventions as per different settings in the last decade were identified through database and related article screening. Selected reviews were analyzed as per outcomes & methodological quality. Findings The present review identified systematic reviews on the efficacy of alcohol brief interventions conducted in primary care population, general and hospital settings and electronic Screening and Brief Intervention (eSBI) delivered in non-treatment-seeking hazardous/harmful drinking population. There is no systematic review identified on the efficacy of alcohol brief interventions in other settings such as emergency departments, workplace, and miscellaneous settings. Conclusion Numerous trials tested the efficacy of brief intervention as a psychosocial intervention in reducing harmful and hazardous alcohol use. Despite the methodological limitations, brief intervention seems to be a cost effective psychological treatment strategy in reducing harmful or hazardous alcohol use in a variety of settings through various health professionals.

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