Table 3.
Overview of key study characteristics.
| Source | Study Design | Country | Participants Age Range | Aims of Study | Substances Targeted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alemagno et al. (2004) [35] | PP | USA | 59–97 | Test efficacy of educational computer programme to reduce medication misuse. | Prescription medication & OTC drugs |
| Barnes et al. (2016) [36] | RCT | USA | 60+ | To examine changes in health-related quality of life. Project SHARE interventions vs. TAU | Alcohol |
| Benza et al. (2010) [37] | PP | USA | 60+ | To develop and evaluate an educational programme to increase older adults’ knowledge of PSU. | Alcohol and OTC drugs |
| Copeland, Blow, Barry (2003) [38] | CS | USA | 55+ | Effect of BI on services use for older veterans who were at-risk drinkers. | Alcohol |
| D’Agostino et al. (2006) [39] | RCT | USA | 51–91 | To evaluate the Geriatric Addictions Program (GAP), designed to assist OA with PSU and DD. | Alcohol and OTC drugs |
| Eliason, Skinstad. (2001) [40] | PP | USA | 54–91 | Prevalence of AoD interactions in older women and if a BI would change knowledge. | Alcohol and OTC drugs |
| Fink et al. (2005) [41] | PCS | USA | 65+ | To evaluate whether providing physicians and older patients in primary care with personalized reports of drinking risks and benefits and patient education reduces alcohol related risks and problems. | Alcohol |
| Fleming et al. (1999) [42] | RCT | USA | 65–75 | To test the efficacy of BI in reducing alcohol use in older problem drinkers. | Alcohol |
| Gottlieb Hansen et al. (2012) [43] | RCT | Denmark | 48–65 | To test if a BI in a non-treatment seeking population of heavy drinkers results in reduced alcohol intake. | Alcohol |
| Kuerbis et al. (2013) [44] | Secondary analysis of data from 3 RCTs | USA | 54+ | Secondary data analysis of cases in three RCT’s that recruited problem drinkers, examining the effectiveness of BI. Additional comparisons to different age cohorts were made. | Alcohol |
| Lee et al. (2009) [45] | Secondary analysis of RCT | USA | 65+ | To assess the efficacy of a harm-reduction based intervention to enhance access to treatment and clinical outcomes among elderly at-risk drinkers. | Alcohol |
| McCann, Wadd & Gill Crofts. (2017) [46] | QS | UK & Norway | 46–77 | To describe the harm reduction models developed in two wet care homes in England and one in Norway. | Alcohol |
| Oslin et al. (2004) [47] | RCT | USA | 60+ | To examine the impact of the Unified Psychogeriatric Biopsychosocial Evaluation and Treatment (UPBEAT) Program, for elderly veterans | Alcohol |
| Oslin et al. (2005) [48] | PP | USA | 50+ | To examine differences in the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of older adults with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence compared to middle-aged adults. | Alcohol |
| Outlaw et al. (2012) [49] | PP | USA | 50+ | To determine the effectiveness of the cognitive-behavioral and self-management treatment approaches targeted to older adults. | Alcohol, Prescription medication & OTC drugs & ID |
| Poole et al. (2009) [50] | QS | Canada | 55–70 | To review the effect of narrative therapy on OA coping with mental health and PSU. | Alcohol |
| Rao. (2014) [51] | CS | UK | 65–85 | To examine the outcomes of an integrated community nursing team for older adults with alcohol misuse. | Alcohol |
| Schonfeld et al. (2015) [52] | PP | USA | Mean age 66.5 | Rolling the Florida Brief intervention and treatment for elders (BRITE project) out across 75 different sites. | Alcohol and ID |
| Watson et al. (2013) [53] | RCT | UK | 55+ | To compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a stepped care intervention against a minimal intervention in primary care. | Alcohol |
Abbreviations: OA, older adults; BI, brief interventions; PSU, problematic substance use; PP, pre-/post design; PCS, Prospective comparison study QE, quasi-experimental design; RCT, randomised control trial; QS, qualitative study; CS, cohort study; TAU, treatment as usual; P & OTC drugs, prescription and over the counter drugs; ID, illegal drugs; DD, dual diagnosis.