J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2008 May;29(5):342-348.

Improvement of Readiness to Change in Heavy Drinkers by Group Drinking Education

• Chung SY
• Kim JS
• Kim SS
• Jung JG
• Bae NK
• Kang DS
• Lim CY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of brief group education on improvement of readiness to change in heavy drinkers.
METHODS
We selected 37 heavy drinkers categoriged in the state of precontemplation and contemplation stage according to readiness to change questionnaire (RTCQ). The readiness to change was re-evaluated after 4 sessions of drinking education.
RESULTS
The mean (+/-SD) frequency of participation in group education was 3.5 (+/-0.6). According to the stage of readiness to change, the subjects were distributed into 11 (29.7%) in the stage of precontemplation and 26 (70.3%) in contemplation before participation in the program. After completion of educational program, the readiness to change in the subjects was significantly (P<0.001) changed into 1 drinker (2.7%) in the stage of precontemplation, 16 (43.2%) in contemplation and 20 (54.1%) in action. The influential factors associated with the improvement of the status of readiness to change was family APGAR score (odd ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.02-3.03).
CONCLUSION
Above results suggested that the readiness to change in heavy drinkers can be improved by brief group education program.

Keyword

group education; readiness to change; heavy drinking

MeSH Terms

Apgar Score
Drinking
Humans
Surveys and Questionnaires