Biomedical subjects

Reid K Hester

Publications and source records attributed to Reid K Hester.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Computer-based tools for diagnosis and treatment of alcohol problems.

Diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related problems are time-intensive procedures that often are difficult to implement in busy clinical settings. Computer-based tools are one approach that may enhance the availability and cost-effectiveness of assessment and intervention and also may offer other advantages over face-to-face interventions. Several PC- and Internet-based programs have been developed that can be used for assessing alcohol problems, some of which are based on existing screening instruments. Other programs have demonstrated effectiveness as interventions, serving to increase patient motivation and reduce alcohol-associated harm through skill building. Investigators also have begun to analyze the mechanisms through which computer-based programs can induce these effects. Future efforts should be aimed at developing and evaluating additional computer-based interventions, particularly for specific patient subgroups, and at removing barriers to the incorporation of such programs into clinical practice.

Alcoholism↗

PubMed2005

The Drinker's Check-up: 12-month outcomes of a controlled clinical trial of a stand-alone software program for problem drinkers.

Sixty-one problem drinkers were randomly assigned to either immediate treatment or a 4-week wait-list control group. Treatment consisted of a computer-based brief motivational intervention, the Drinker's Check-up (DCU). Outcomes strongly support the experimental hypotheses and long-term effectiveness of the treatment. Overall, participants reduced the quantity and frequency of drinking by 50%, and had similar reductions in alcohol-related problems that were sustained through 12-month follow-up. The DCU seems to be effective in enhancing problem drinkers' motivation for change.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Demon rum: high-tech solutions to an age-old problem.

This article summarizes the proceedings of a symposium at the 2004 Research Society on Alcoholism Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, organized and chaired by Scott T. Walters. The purpose of the symposium was to describe several brief motivational interventions offered via the Internet, including the evidence for web-based interventions, applications and contexts in which such approaches are being used, and directions for future research. Walters provided an overview and introduction to the topic and discussed the e-CHUG (www.e-chug.com) and e-TOKE (www.e-toke.com) feedback interventions for college alcohol and marijuana prevention, including the contexts in which they are being used and ways they are being integrated with other campus prevention efforts. Dr. Hester presented 12-month results from a controlled trial of the Drinker's Check-up (www.drinkerscheckup.com), an intervention for adult problem drinkers that is available both as a Windows and as an Internet application. Dr. Chiauzzi described the development and testing of My Student Body (www.mystudentbody.com), a tailored drinking prevention web site for college students. Finally, Dr. Miller addressed the use of online assessment and feedback to reduce drinking, including the history of web-based interventions and their likely future and the potential limitations of such approaches.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed2004

Using technical innovations in clinical practice: the Drinker's Check-Up software program.

Interest in assessing and treating a variety of psychological conditions with software programs is increasing rapidly. This article reviews a software program for problem drinkers entitled the Drinker's Check-Up (DCU) and illustrates its use with three patients. The DCU is based on the principles of brief motivational interventions and can be used as a stand-alone intervention by therapists without expertise in substance abuse or as a prelude to alcohol treatment services. It is the first software program to provide integrated assessment, feedback, and assistance with decision making for individuals experiencing problems with alcohol. Preliminary data from an ongoing clinical trial of the DCU as a stand-alone intervention indicate that it is an effective intervention for a wide range of problem drinkers.

Adult↗