Brief video intervention to teach firefighters the neurobiological basis of high risk alcohol use: A pilot study

Introduction: Evidence-based information related to the neurobiological bases of alcohol use disorders has not been widely disseminated to individuals affected by alcohol use. The feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the video, Alcohol and the Brain was assessed, guided by the three constructs of the transtheoretical model: processes of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy. Methods: This study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a brief video intervention and change in alcohol-related knowledge in a sample of urban firefighters (n = 11). The 20 min video was shown in a 45-min session of a Self-Management Wellness Program. A 10-item knowledge test was administered prior to and after the video and analyzed using a paired t-tests. Results: This brief intervention was feasibly delivered with sufficient time for questions and answers in the firehouse. There was a high level of acceptability as reflected in the positive comments and the highly interactive discussion. There was a significant increase in knowledge from pre- to post-test (t = 7.7; p < 0.001). Implications for practice: Complex neuroscience can be translated for patients in the form of a video that is feasible and acceptable with significant increase in knowledge. The efficacy of this brief video intervention on alcohol-related and treatment-related outcomes needs to be established.