Measuring change from alcohol brief interventions: development of an international consensus core outcome set: executive summary

Key findings
10 items should be reported in all efficacy and effectiveness trials of Alcohol Brief Interventions (ABI) in adults aged 16 or over who are not seeking formal treatment.
• Typical frequency of consumption
• Typical quantity of consumption
• Frequency of heavy episodic drinking
• A combined consumption measure, which summarises alcohol use
• Hazardous or harmful drinking
• Standard drinks consumed in a week
• Alcohol related consequences
• Alcohol related injury
• Use of emergency healthcare services
• Quality of life
These should be measured to:
1. Reduce selective reporting (e.g. only reporting some, often significant findings);
2. To support stronger reviews of ABI evidence, as more studies can be included;
3. Reduce research waste (e.g. so your work can be used by more researchers);
4. To help researchers easily find the internationally important outcomes;
5. To minimise time taken to justify outcomes to funders.
Reported outcomes should include, in detail:
• What was measured, how it was measured (including statistical methods and time points), and effect sizes with confidence intervals.
Trial reports should also comply with the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT), and relevant extensions.