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Abstract

Aim
To evaluate the effectiveness of home-based contingency management (CM) in improving abstinence in an incentive-dependent manner among alcoholic individuals.


Methods
A 12-week, home-visit (HV) only controlled, randomized incentive-ranging trial of 161 adults with current alcohol dependence was recruited using social network theory techniques. Participants randomly received HV, low- (CM-L) or higher-magnitude CM (CM-H). Community health workers made regular home visits, monitored drinking behavior and delivered CM as appropriate. Two follow-up visits at weeks 13 and 16 were conducted to assess whether abstinence would still be maintained after the interventions discontinued. Rates of continuous reported abstinence (primary), numbers of positive breath samples (secondary) over the intervention period and rates of prolonged reported abstinence (secondary) were evaluated.


Results
CM did not significantly improve the rates of continuous reported abstinence across the 12-week intervention period (odds ratio (OR) for trend 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7–2.1, P = 0.601). There was a significant reduction, however, in the average number of positive breath samples submitted by the CM-H group (generalized linear model, β −0.5, 95% CI −0.9 to −0.2, P = 0.005). The CM-H arm also had a significantly higher abstinence rate during the follow-up period (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–8.8, P = 0.013). Event history model suggested that the CM-H condition had significantly higher chances of achieving renewed abstinence across the study period (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3–3.2, P = 0.003).


Conclusions
Home-based CM with sufficient incentive is promising in reducing alcohol use and in improving rates of abstinence over time. Allowing for a certain grace period may better capture the delayed treatment effect of home-based CM.

Background: Our population is ageing and in 2050 more than one out of five people will be 60 years or older; 80% of whom will be living in a low-and-middle income country. Living longer does not entail living healthier; however, there is not a widely accepted measure of healthy ageing hampering policy and research. The World Health Organization defines healthy ageing as the process of developing and maintaining functional ability that will enable well-being in older age. We aimed to create a healthy ageing index (HAI) in a subset of six low-and-middle income countries, part of the 10/ 66 study, by using items of functional ability and intrinsic capacity. Methods: The study sample included residents 65-years old and over (n = 12,865) from catchment area sites in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Items were collected by interviewing participants or key informants between 2003 and 2010. Two-stage factor analysis was employed and we compared one-factor, second-order and bifactor models. The psychometric properties of the index, including reliability, replicability, unidimensionality and concurrent convergent validity as well as measurement invariance per ethnic group and gender were further examined in the best fit model. Results: The bifactor model displayed superior model fit statistics supporting that a general factor underlies the various items but other subdomain factors are also needed. The HAI indicated excellent reliability (ω = 0.96, ωΗ = 0.84), replicability (H = 0.96), some support for unidimensionality (Explained Common Variance = 0.65) and some concurrent convergent validity with self-rated health. Scalar measurement invariance per ethnic group and gender was supported. Conclusions: A HAI with excellent psychometric properties was created by using items of functional ability and intrinsic capacity in a subset of six low-and-middle income countries. Further research is needed to explore sub-population differences and to validate this index to other cultural settings. ; This work is also supported by the ATHLOS (Ageing Trajectories of Health: Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies) project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement number 635316. A. M. P. was supported by the MRC MR/K021907/1