Alcohol Screening and Pre-Operative Intervention Research Study (ASPIRE)

This study aims to learn more about how to improve patients' health before and after a scheduled surgery by examining acceptability and initial efficacy of pre-operative alcohol use reduction interventions.

The study is a randomized clinical pilot trial that assesses preliminary intervention efficacy of a two-session health coaching intervention relative to brief advice among pre-operative elective surgical patients and evaluates intervention acceptability. Study subjects will be outpatients at a large health system in the midwestern United States and fulfill the study's inclusion criteria. Subjects will be randomized to one of two intervention conditions: Health Coaching or Brief Advice.

One brief advice session, resource brochure, standard of care, and an infographic about alcohol and surgical health at patient's pre-existing pre-operative clinical visit.

Two 45-minute health coaching sessions will use a non-confrontation motivational interviewing (MI) style. Intervention delivery will include expressing concern about unhealthy drinking, providing feedback linking alcohol use and health (related to surgery and general health), advising the patient regarding abstinence or alcohol use reduction, and working with the patient to set a drinking goal if he/she is ready to change. We will also include a personalized feedback component to address the links between pre-operative alcohol use and postoperative morbidity/mortality.

Average (i.e. mean) weekly alcohol use was assessed using the timeline followback measure. The timeline followback assesses alcohol use using a calendar format on which participants report the number of standard drinks they consumed each day during the assessment period. In the United States, one standard drink (or one alcoholic drink equivalent), is defined as any beverage containing 0.6 oz or 14 grams of pure alcohol.

Interventions will be considered 'acceptable' if the average acceptability rating reaches a threshold of 3 or more on a 4-point Likert scale where a score of 4 is most acceptable. Satisfaction Quite dissatisfied Mildly dissatisfied Mostly satisfied Very satisfied

Inclusion Criteria: Referred for elective or semi-elective surgery or pre-operative assessment in the next 120 days Meet criteria for "risky drinking" as defined by study staff Exclusion Criteria: Displays or shows evidence of psychotic symptoms Undergoing surgeries that commonly require local anesthesia only

The researchers will plan to share individual participant data that underlies the results reported in an article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices), Study protocol, and Informed Consent Form.

Investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee ("learned intermediary") identified for this purpose.