Online education to inform the elderly about age related alcohol risks a randomized trial of effectiveness and costs

This proposed Phase SBIR study is a randomized trial of the effectiveness of A Toast to Health in Later Life! a web based patient educational program designed to prevent hazardous and harmful drinking in older adults The projectandapos s specific objectives are to provide reliable information on the extent to which A Toast to Health in Later Life! reduces alcohol related risks and problems among older patients who drink and evaluate the extent to which these reductions are associated with increases in health related quality of life patient knowledge and self efficacy and decreases in the use of health services and the costs of care The proposal is being submitted in response to NIAAAandapos s interest in the development and evaluation of educational materials designed to intervene with the elderly around specific age related risks for alcohol problems and to NIHandapos s highest priority areas in health economics research because it aims to measure the actual or potential impact of a specific intervention on healthcare utilization and health outcomes The study will take place with patients who currently drink and receive their care at a large community based medical center in in L A County that serves a stable and diverse population Older people can experience alcoholandapos s unfavorable health effects even at relatively low consumption levels because of age related physiological changes and drinkingandapos s potentially adverse interactions with chronic illness increased medication use and diminishing functional status About of older adults drink in excess of the NIAAAandapos s recommended limits Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of deaths and million years of potential life lost each year in the U S and cost the States a median of $ billion in Most of the costs are due to binge drinking According to the CDC older adults binge drink more frequently than their younger counterparts and drinking too much contributes to over different injuries and diseases including car crashes and violence Further the chance of getting sick and dying from alcohol problems increases significantly for those who binge drink more often When health and drinking patterns are accounted for about half of all older drinkers may be at risk for experiencing alcohol related harm even if they drink within recommended limits Considering that about people will turn every day for the next decade and that the proportion of older adults will increase to more than of the U S population by the number of older people with alcohol related risks will increase even if drinking prevalence remains constant Despite this many physicians fail to discuss drinking with older patients partly because they do not have the time and training to do so and partly because the available education focuses on younger drinkers To complicate matters observational evidence suggests that in some older adults moderate consumption may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular functioning and mortality A Toast to Health in Later Life! covers the spectrum of drinking and its benefits and risks If effective and cost effective the product has the potential to achieve important clinical and societal benefits This project is an evaluation of the effectiveness and costs of A Toast to Health in Later Life! web based education designed to intervene with the elderly around age specific alcohol related concerns Effective education is needed for this growing population of drinkers many of whom drink above recommended limits