Brief Intervention Among Mexican-Origin Young Adults in the Emergency Department at the USA-Mexico Border: Examining the Role of Patient's Preferred Language of Intervention in Predicting Drinking Outcomes.

AIMS

Determine if the language in which brief intervention (BI) is delivered influences drinking outcomes among Mexican-origin young adults in the emergency department when controlling for ethnic matching.

SHORT SUMMARY

Aim of study was to determine if a patient's preferred language of intervention influences drinking outcomes among Mexican-origin young adults in the emergency department. Results indicate no significant differences in drinking outcomes among those who received BI in Spanish and BI in English.

METHODS

This is a secondary data analysis on data from 310 patients randomized to receive a BI completed in Spanish (BI-S) or English (BI-E), with 3- and 12-month follow-up. Outcome measures of interest were drinking days per week, drinks per drinking day, maximum drinks in a day and negative consequences of drinking.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in drinking outcomes among those who received BI in Spanish and BI in English.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced drinking outcomes following BI among Mexican-origin young adults in the emergency department may not have been due to the language used to deliver intervention. Thus, our results provide evidence that language of intervention is not a crucial factor to achieve cultural congruence. In addition, our findings suggest that receiving the intervention is beneficial regardless of language, thus, facilitating real-world implementation.