Effects of a Revised Moderate Drinking Program for Enhancing Behavior Modification in the Workplace for Heavy Drinkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Japan

Abstract

This study examined the effects of the Hizen Alcoholism Prevention Program (HAPPY) and the revised version of HAPPY (HAPPY Plus), and also compared the two programs to determine whether the HAPPY Plus achieved better outcomes for heavy drinkers in the workplace. The HAPPY Plus designed to strengthen participants' recruitment, perception of threat, stress management, behavior modification by self-monitoring using a calendar-based diary, and to prevent dropout by telephone and e-mail follow-up by a trained nurse. Participants were men and women who consumed at least 20 g and 10 g of alcohol daily, respectively, and had not been diagnosed with alcohol dependence. A group intervention, 3-month randomized controlled trial was conducted. The control and intervention groups received the HAPPY and HAPPY Plus, respectively. The primary endpoint was average daily alcohol consumption. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), weight, body mass index, blood pressure, liver function, goal achievement rate, self-efficacy, and self-esteem were also measured. Out of 88 recruited employees, 83 (intervention group: 40; control group: 43) completed the study (completion rates were 100% and 93.4% respectively). As a result, average daily alcohol consumption decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.001), but did not differ between groups. Even though behavior change rate was higher, and self-efficacy and confidence increased in the intervention group, AUDIT decreased in both groups but was significant only in the control group. Physiological indicators in the intervention group improved, but were not significant between the groups. Against the program revision, this study did not prove * Corresponding author. K. Harada et al.1602 superiority of HAPPY Plus to the HAPPY regarding the indicators. However, better behavior modification and lower dropout were observed in the HAPPY Plus. Therefore, after further improvement is made, this group intervention program is applied to the workplace.

A systematic review of the efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of workplace-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of problematic substance use

“…Risk thresholds in these targeted studies included hazardous or harmful drinking ( n = 10), cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk ( n = 1), and having accessed an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health or alcohol and/or other drug use ( n = 3). Of the 10 interventions delivered to workers who drank at hazardous or harmful levels, three excluded participants if they met criteria for alcohol dependence ( 41 , 43 , 49 ). Broad health promotion interventions were most common ( n = 9), followed by brief interventions (BIs; n = 7), psychosocial interventions ( n = 7), e-health interventions ( n = 4), EAPs ( n = 3), drug testing ( n = 2), and stepped care ( n = 1).…”

“…Harada et al ( 41 ) conducted the only evaluation of a targeted psychosocial intervention for high-risk (but not dependent) drinkers in white-collar Japanese workplaces. They evaluated the “Haizen Alcoholism Prevention Program” (HAPPY) against a modified version (“HAPPY Plus”).…”

Effectiveness of nurse‐delivered screening and brief alcohol intervention in the workplace: A randomized controlled trial at five Japan‐based companies

“…If a short (5‐min) intervention or single‐point intervention shows sufficient effect, there may be certain advantages in the implementation of SBI under time constraints in daily clinical practice. Second, although studies have indicated that the occupational healthcare system in Japan makes the workplace an important site for SBI, results regarding effectiveness have been inconsistent (Araki et al, 2006; Harada et al, 2015; Ito et al, 2015; Iyadomi et al, 2013). Lack of initial screening may lead to the failure to intervene in the target population adequately.…”