Structured Preparation for Alcohol Detoxification

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A feasibility study of an intervention for Structured Preparation before detoxification in Alcohol Dependence: the SPADe trial.

• IRAS ID

  213086

• Contact name

  Christos Kouimtsidis

• Sponsor organisation

  Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 5 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  Alcohol-related problems are widespread in England. Those most severely affected are dependent drinkers, who have lost control over drinking and need alcohol in order to function every day.

  Current research tells us that rushed attempts to stop using alcohol (detoxifications) do not help patients to stay off alcohol for the rest of their lives. It may be also harmful going through many detoxes and make future attempts to stop drinking even harder. It is important that patients get treatment before being detoxed that gives them the best chance of achieving long term abstinence.

  Clinicians have developed a group programme to prepare dependent patients before detox. The aim of the programme is to stabilise drinking, to support patients to prepare for a new life without alcohol and to encourage them to attend support after the detox.

  Small studies have already been done suggesting that this programme is working and that patients are happy to take part. We plan to conduct a large trial to assess properly if this group programme is effective and suitable for widespread use. But before we do this, we want to make sure the trial will run smoothly. This application is therefore for a feasibility study.

  Alcohol dependent patients who attend NHS alcohol community services and agree to take part will be randomised (as if ‘by the throw of a dice’) to either take part in the detox preparation group programme, or to carry on receiving usual care (no group preparation). We will investigate if patients can be recruited and retained in the study, and whether the questionnaires we have chosen are acceptable. We will examine what patients, carers and service providers thought of the programme using detailed interviews. The study will last for 30 months. Our findings will ensure the larger trial is designed properly.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/SC/0051

• Date of REC Opinion

  31 Mar 2017

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion