Abstract
BackgroundResearch estimates that 30% of children under the age of 16 years in the UK live with at least one parent with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Parental AUDs are associated with adverse childhood experiences and poorer outcomes for children. The PAReNTS (Promoting Alcohol Reduction in Non-Treatment Seeking parents) trial aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial of brief alcohol interventions to reduce parental alcohol misuse.MethodsThe cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted within early help family support and children’s social care services in three local authorities in the North East of England: Newcastle, Durham and North Tyneside. All eligible parents the caseloads of participating practitioners will be screened for an AUD using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test – Consumption (AUDIT-C) screening tool by the social care practitioners within routine appointments. All parents who score 5 or more on the AUDIT-C will be invited to participate in the trial. Consenting participants will complete a baseline questionnaire before receiving one of three randomised interventions: (i) healthy lifestyle leaflet (control intervention); (ii) a brief alcohol advice intervention delivered by the social care practitioner plus healthy lifestyle leaflet; (iii) a brief alcohol advice intervention delivered by the social care practitioner, healthy lifestyle leaflet plus a 40-min behaviour change intervention with an optional review session delivered by the local alcohol service. Follow-up data will be collected 6 and 12 months post recruitment. A linked qualitative study will explore participating parent and practitioner views on the acceptability of trial processes and interventions.DiscussionThe PAReNTS trial will provide a robust estimate of recruitment, retention and consent rates in order to inform the design of a future definitive study examining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alcohol screening and brief interventions to reduce parental AUDs within vulnerable families.Trial registrationISRCTN registry ISRCTN60291091; protocol version 2; 17.10.2016
Highlights
Whilst within randomised controlled trials of brief alcohol interventions in primary care settings often report a consent rate of 80% and aim to retain 70% of participants at the 12-month follow-up [51], parents involved in early help family support and children’s social care are a vulnerable population and external factors within their daily living may reduce the likelihood of providing consent to participate in the trial and of being retained at follow-up
Based upon Manning et al [1], we estimate that 30% of parents will score 5 or more on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT)-C and, similar to a brief alcohol intervention trial with pregnant women [49], 78% will provide informed consent to participate in the trial
Whilst there is a large evidence of effectiveness of brief intervention within primary care [81] and other health settings [44], this is the first trial of alcohol brief interventions with parents in a social care setting
Summary
Recruitment and screening The trial will be conducted within early help family support and children’s social care services in three local authorities in the North East of England: Newcastle, Durham and North Tyneside. The approach involves a patient-centred counselling technique, informed by the principles of motivational interviewing [42] This approach is based upon the ‘How much is too much?’ brief intervention programme (level 2), adapted for delivery with parents involved in early help family support and children’s social care services. It aims to introduce and evoke change by giving the parent the opportunity to explore their alcohol use as well as their motivations and strategies for change.
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