Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations (unclear allocation concealment and blinding of outcome assessment).
"?>A Cochrane review included 66 studies with a total of 17 901 subjects. Four trials were cluster randomised. Motivational interviewing was compared with control (placebo, no intervention or treatment as usual) or with alternative intervention (e.g. self-control training, skills-based training, confrontative feedback, skills-based counselling, 12-step facilitation, brief feedback, risk reduction, relapse prevention, cognitive behavioural therapy). At 4 or more months follow-up, effects were found for self-reported quantity of alcohol consumed (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.14; 95% CI -0.20 to -0.08 or a reduction from 13.7 drinks/week to 12.2 drinks/week; 28 trials, n=6676); frequency of alcohol consumption (SMD -0.11; 95% CI -0.19 to -0.03 or a reduction in the number of days/week alcohol was consumed from 2.74 days to 2.57 days; 16 trials, n=4390). A marginal effect was found for alcohol problems (SMD -0.08; 95% CI -0.15 to 0.00 or a reduction in an alcohol problems scale score from 8.91 to 8.18). No effects were found for binge drinking (SMD -0.05; 95% CI -0.12 to 0.01), drink-driving (SMD -0.11; 95% CI -0.31 to 0.09), or other alcohol-related risky behaviour (SMD -0.14; 95% CI -0.30 to 0.02).
Date of latest search: 2 October 2013