Tele-Nursing Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorder

Background: Alcohol is the most prevalent psychoactive substance in the Indian context. This affects the individual, family, and society extensively. Despite numerous advances in the treatment of alcoholism, relapse remains a common cause of concern. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of tele-nursing intervention (TNI) to improve alcohol-related outcomes among rural men with alcohol use disorder. Methods: This two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in an addiction treatment unit of tertiary mental care setting, India, between January 2022 and April 2023. One hundred sixty-four participants diagnosed with alcohol dependent syndrome were randomly assigned to receive TNI ( n = 81) or treatment as usual (TAU) ( n = 83). Participants of both groups were initially assessed for craving, quantity, and frequency of alcohol consumption and severity of alcohol use. TNI participants received 8 video-enabled cue exposure group sessions, periodic mobile phone interventions, and text message reminders after discharge along with routine treatment (TAU) at de-addiction wards. TAU group participants received only routine treatment, which includes detoxification and long-term medication to deal with craving along with individual educational sessions on harmful effects of alcohol use and advice about quitting alcohol. All the participants were followed up over 6 months postdischarge. Results: Over 6 months follow-up TNI group subjects (vs. TAU group) reported significantly decreased craving scores ( F = 6.677, p < .000, η 2 = 0.134), drinking days ( F = 17.26, p < .000, η 2 = 0.254), quantity of alcohol consumption ( F = 26.32, p < .000, η 2 = 0.252), AUDIT scores ( F = 13.97, p < .000, η 2 = 0.152), and lesser relapse rates ( p < .007). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that TNIs are effective in improving alcohol-related outcomes among rural men with alcohol use disorder. This study provides empirical evidence for the use of TNIs in the management of alcohol dependence. These low-cost approaches could overcome barriers to implement face-to-face interventions in clinical setting.