Author(s)

Koji Harada^1*, Michiko Moriyama², Mariko Uno², Toshio Kobayashi², Takefumi Yuzuriha³

¹Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
²Institute of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
³Hizen Psychiatric Center, Saga, Japan.

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 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.

Heavy Drinkers, Harmful Use of Alcohol, Moderate Drinking Program, Behavior Modification, Workplace

Harada, K. , Moriyama, M. , Uno, M. , Kobayashi, T. and Yuzuriha, T. (2015) Effects of a Revised Moderate Drinking Program for Enhancing Behavior Modification in the Workplace for Heavy Drinkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Japan. Health, 7, 1601-1614. doi: 10.4236/health.2015.712173.