Development of Self-help Workbook for Enhancing Motivation and Promoting Behavioral Change in Alcohol Dependent Patients
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Abstract
Objective: Alcohol consumption and related beverages remain a major public health concern in Thailand, leading to physical, psychological, and social consequences. Although several treatment approaches exist, barriers such as limited accessibility and stigma remain significant challenges. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a self-help workbook designed to enhance motivation and promote behavioral change in alcohol consumption.
Methods: The self-help workbook was developed using CBT and MI principles and validated by experts prior to testing. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. Based on the sample size calculation, 60 participants were planned; however, a total of 30 inpatients (n = 30) diagnosed with alcohol use disorder were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups. The intervention group received the self-help workbook (n = 15), while the control group received alcohol education leaflet (n = 15). Research instruments included the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA), the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (AASE), and the Timeline Follow-Back interview (TLFB). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, week 1, week 4, and week 12.
Results: The results showed that the experimental group who received the self-help workbook (WB) tended to have greater improvement in motivation to quit drinking compared with the control group who received the health education leaflet on alcohol (HE) at week 12, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.338). However, the level of self-control in high-risk situations among participants in the WB group was significantly higher than that of the HE groups at week 12 (p = 0.024). Both groups demonstrated a reduction in average alcohol consumption and improvement in drinking behaviors throughout the follow-up period, with no significant differences between groups.
Conclusion: The self-help workbook may have the potential to enhance motivation and certain aspects of drinking behaviors, particularly self-efficacy in resisting high-risk situations for relapse, although its effectiveness among inpatients with alcohol use disorder requires further investigation.
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