# Brief Intervention by Community Health Workers for Unhealthy Drinking in Latinos.

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $410,696

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Latinos will comprise nearly 30% of the population by 2050, and socially disadvantaged Latinos
experience a greater burden of poor health and negative social consequences related to their alcohol use than
non-Latino Whites. Despite the need for services, low treatment utilization rates and poor treatment retention
suggest it is important to make alcohol interventions more accessible for Latinos. Community health workers
are an effective way to help under-served populations manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and
hypertension, but they have been used very little in addiction services. The current study extends work from a
pilot study that utilized community health workers to deliver a brief 3 session alcohol intervention that
integrates Motivational Enhancement Therapy and Strengths-Based Case Management MET/SBCM . Based
on those promising but preliminary findings, we propose to test the MET/SBCM intervention among a broader
population of socially disadvantaged Latinos who engage in unhealthy drinking. For the proposed study a
partnership will be formed between UCLA and a large community-based healthcare organization, Providence
Center for Community Health Improvement Providence to conduct a phase 2 randomized controlled trial of
the MET/SBCM intervention.
 Participants n=2 0 will screen positive for exceeding US low-risk drinking guidelines and will not be
seeking alcohol treatment. They will be randomized to either the 3-session MET/SBCM alcohol intervention or
to an alcohol educational booklet control condition. Alcohol use, alcohol-related problems and utilization of
health and social services will be assessed at baseline, 3-, - and 12-month follow-ups. It is hypothesized that
the MET/SBCM intervention will improve outcomes compared to the informational handout control group.
Candidate mechanisms of behavior change will also be examined in a longitudinal framework. The
mechanisms investigated will include 1 readiness to change, 2 perceived reward value and risks associated
with alcohol use, 3 perception of drinking norms, 4 change talk, 5 general self-efficacy, self-esteem and
 7 utilization of community services.
 The goal of this project is to establish an evidence base for an intervention approach that is sustainable
by a large community-based organization serving Latinos. Working with community health workers poises this
intervention to address health disparities within this community. The project will help improve the reach and
impact of effective alcohol interventions among socially disadvantaged Latinos, thereby contributing to
improved population health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9923514
- **Project number:** 5R01AA025564-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** MITCHELL P KARNO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $410,696
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-05-01 → 2022-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9923514

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9923514, Brief Intervention by Community Health Workers for Unhealthy Drinking in Latinos. (5R01AA025564-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9923514. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*