Brief Alcohol Intervention: The Healthy Moms Project

Key DFM Personnel

Michael Fleming, MD - Principal Investigator
Marlon Mundt, MA, MS - Data Analyst
Judie Pfeifer - Study Coordinator
Georgiana Wilton, PhD - Interventionist/Trainer/Researcher
Larissa Zakletskaia, MA - Associate Database Manager

Funding

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Background

The prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and fetal alcohol exposure is an important national priority. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that as many as 140,000 children born in the US are exposed to potentially harmful effects of alcohol during fetal development. One prevention strategy is to establish screening and intervention procedures that can be administered in primary care settings to women who are drinking above recommended limits.

Goal

The study is designed to test the efficiency of a primary care-based brief intervention for women who used alcohol during their last pregnancy who resume heavy drinking during the post-partum period. The ultimate goal is to reduce alcohol use, alcohol related harm, and fetal alcohol exposure in subsequent pregnancies.

Method

Women completed an embedded alcohol questionnaire (Health Screening Survey) while seeing their obstetricians for routine post partum visits. Women who screened positive for heavy drinking were invited to participate in a health interview. Those who met eligibility criteria were randomized to a usual care control group or a physician/nurse brief intervention group. The intervention consisted of two 15-20 minute physician/nurse visits and two 2-minute follow-up phone calls. All subjects are being contacted at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months by telephone to assess outcomes including alcohol use, quality of life, mental health problems, accidents, and heath care utilization. The study is closed to enrollment.

Significance

The study will significantly increase our understanding of how to reduce alcohol use in post partum patients and how to limit Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol exposure (FAE).

Articles

Jagodzinski T, Fleming MF. Correlates of postpartum alcohol use. Wis Med J. In press 2007

Jagodzinski T, Fleming MF. Prevalence of interpersonal abuse in primary care patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain. J Gen Internal Med. In press, 2007

Certain HE, Mueller MM, Jagodzinski, TD, Fleming MF. Domestic abuse during the previous year in a sample of post partum women. Submitted with revisions to J Obstet Gynecology and Neonatal Nursing. July, 2007.