Enabling implementation of interventions in the first line services towards risky alcohol use (The WIRUS- project)

The WIRUS-project focus on alcohol use and work participation. Alcohol-use is the third leading contributor to the global burden of diseases, and harmful use of alcohol is a cause component of more than 200 disease and injury conditions. The WIRUS-project is targeting interventions aimed at persons drinking more alcohol than WHO recommends, often labelled risky drinkers. This group represents 10 to 35 percent of the working population, or 35 to 120 million Europeans. The WIRUS-project aims to evaluate the usefulness of two different preventive interventions among risky-drinkers recruited from workplaces, organized as four project packages. Altogether, 22 companies participate in the WIRUS-project. The first package is a randomized control trial comparing the effectiveness of a face-to-face dialog based intervention using Motivational Interview techniques, versus the eHealth program Balance, versus a control group, on alcohol consumption, sick leave and presenteeism. Sub-group analysis will be done to reveal knowledge on who benefits from which intervention. Altogether 301 employees are enrolled in the RCT-study. The second package is a mixed methods implementation process evaluation, including a screening targeting 8030 employees in the participating companies, that investigates why or why not the interventions show effectiveness, and reasons for differences between providers, companies, work groups and individuals. The third package is a cost analyses of which intervention that are most cost-effective and beneficial, and for whom. The fourth package is an innovation- and knowledge translation project aimed at building evidence-based practice towards occupational health service personnel, and municipalities Public Health services.

The WIRUS-project focus on alcohol use and work participation. Alcohol-use is the third leading contributor to the global burden of diseases, and harmful use of alcohol is a cause component of more than 200 disease and injury conditions. The WIRUS-project is targeting interventions aimed at persons drinking more alcohol than WHO recommends, often labelled risky drinkers. This group represents 10 to 35 percent of the working population, or 35 to 120 million Europeans.The WIRUS-project aims to evaluate the usefulness of two different preventive interventions among risky-drinkers recruited from workplaces, organized as four project packages. Altogether, 22 companies participate in the WIRUS-project.The first package is a randomized control trial comparing the effectiveness of a face-to-face dialog based intervention using Motivational Interview techniques, versus the eHealth program Balance, versus a control group, on alcohol consumption, sick leave and presenteeism. Sub-group analysis will be done to reveal knowledge on who benefits from which intervention. Altogether 301 employees are enrolled in the RCT-study. The second package is a mixed methods implementation process evaluation, including a screening targeting 8030 employees in the participating companies, that investigates why or why not the interventions show effectiveness, and reasons for differences between providers, companies, work groups and individuals. The third package is a cost analyses of which intervention that are most cost-effective and beneficial, and for whom. The fourth package is an innovation- and knowledge translation project aimed at building evidence-based practice towards occupational health service personnel, and municipalities Public Health services.