ArticleBMJ open2024
Professionals' perspectives on interventions to reduce problematic alcohol use in older adults: a realist evaluation of working elements.
Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Group-based interventions to reduce diabetes distress in adults with type 1 diabetes: A rapid realist review of the Reduce and TunedIn interventions.Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association · 2026Review
- Relatives' Perspectives on What Works to Reduce Problematic Alcohol Use in Older Adults: A Realist Evaluation.International journal of mental health and addiction · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThis study set out to understand how (which elements), in what context and why (which mechanisms) interventions are successful in reducing (problematic) alcohol use among older adults, from the perspective of professionals providing these interventions.
designGuided by a realist evaluation approach, an existing initial programme theory (IPT) on working elements in alcohol interventions was evaluated by conducting semistructured interviews with professionals. SETTING AND
participantsThese professionals (N=20) provide interventions across several contexts: with or without practitioner involvement; in-person or not and in an individual or group setting. Data were coded and links between contexts, elements, mechanisms and outcomes were sought for to confirm, refute or refine the IPT.
resultsFrom the perspective of professionals, there are several general working elements in interventions for older adults: (1) pointing out risks and consequences of drinking behaviour; (2) paying attention to abstinence; (3) promoting contact with peers; (4) providing personalised content and (5) providing support. We also found context-specific working elements: (1) providing personalised conversations and motivational interviewing with practitioners; (2) ensuring safety, trust and a sense of connection and a location nearby home or a location that people are familiar with in person and (3) sharing experiences and tips in group interventions. Furthermore, the mechanisms awareness and accessible and low threshold participation were important contributors to positive intervention outcomes.
conclusionIn addition to the IPT, our findings emphasise the need for social contact and support, personalised content, and strong relationships (both between client and practitioner, and client and peers) in interventions for older adults.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.