Culturally Adapted Motivational Interviewing for Latino Heavy Drinkers: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

A randomized clinical trial of culturally adapted and unadapted motivational interviewing to reduce drinking and related problems among heavy drinking Latinos assessed 57 participants at baseline and at 2 (86% retention) and 6 months (84% retention) after treatment. Significant decreases across both treatments were found in heavy drinking days per month and drinking consequences (p < .001), with greater reductions for drinking consequences for culturally adapted motivational interviewing at 2 months (p = .009) and continuing reductions in culturally adapted motivational interviewing at 6 months. Findings provide preliminary support for the value of cultural adaptation to enhance the efficacy of motivational interviewing with Latino heavy drinkers.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol
• Latinos
• motivational interviewing
• cultural adaptation
• randomized clinical trial

Acknowledgments

The preparation of this manuscript was made possible by funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Grant number K23AA14905, PI: C. Lee and a Senior Research Career Scientist Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs, awarded to the third author.

Notes

MI = motivational interviewing; CAMI = culturally adapted motivational interviewing; SD = standard deviation; DrInC = Drinkers Inventory of Consequences; n.s. = not significant.

^a According to Marin et al. (1987), a score of 3.12 indicates a moderate level of acculturation.

^b The DrInC was log transformed.

SD = standard deviation; MI = motivational interviewing; CAMI = culturally adapted motivational interviewing; DrInC = Drinkers Inventory of Consequences.