Effectiveness of Nurse-led Brief Intervention to Reduce the Risky Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Use Among Older Adults: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial from India

Background: India has witnessed a gradual increase in substance use among the elderly, driven by the country's aging population and evolving demographic trends. There remains a lack of scientific foundation regarding the efficacy of brief intervention among older adults in the context of low- and middle-income countries. The current study explored the effectiveness of nurse-led brief intervention to reduce risky substance use patterns among the elderly in the Indian context. Methods: The present study is a pilot randomized trial with assessments conducted before and after the intervention at 4-week intervals. The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was used to detect changes in risky substance use, and the intervention was based on the ASSIST Brief Intervention Protocol. The study setting was a government-funded elderly citizen club, which was conveniently selected. Results: Out of the 80 contacted participants, 60 subjects were enrolled, evenly divided between intervention and control groups. The mean age of the sample was 69.80 years (SD = 4.2). Although there was some difference in post-follow-up scores, we did not observe a significant benefit for the brief intervention in reducing risky substance use among the elderly in this setting (P > .05). Conclusion: The study demonstrated a reduction in risky substance use patterns among the elderly population in both the intervention and control groups. Future trials should adopt rigorous methodological approaches to provide robust clinical evidence for implementing similar interventions aimed at enhancing the well-being of elderly individuals in this setting.