Outcome Reporting in Brief Intervention Trials: Alcohol (ORBITAL) core outcome set: from international consensus to international use?

Description

Background: INEBRIA members developed the 'Outcome Reporting in Brief Intervention Trials: Alcohol' (ORBITAL) core outcome set (COS) for efficacy and effectiveness of trials and evaluations for alcohol brief interventions (ABIs). Here we summarise this process and discuss how we might improve uptake and use in the INEBRIA and ABI community.
Methods: We used the COMET Initiative methodology. This involved a systematic review which identified 2641 outcomes in 401 ABI papers measured by 1560 different approaches. These outcomes were aggregated into outcome categories, and 150 participants from 19 countries participated in a two-round e-Delphi outcome prioritization exercise which identified 15 of 93 outcome categories to be discussed at a consensus meeting of key stakeholders. A psychometric evaluation determined how to measure the core outcomes and we draw on established COS for dissemination strategies.
Results: Ten outcomes with measures form the ORBITAL COS: typical quantity, typical frequency, frequency of heavy episodic drinking, a combined consumption measure summarizing alcohol use, hazardous or harmful drinking (average consumption), standard drinks consumed in the past week (current consumption), alcohol-related consequences, alcohol-related injury, use of emergency healthcare services (impact of alcohol use), and quality of life. To support potential users, we created a data dictionary, used open science for transparency and to support implementation, and have plans to disseminate widely to individuals and groups.
Conclusion: The ORBITAL COS is a consensus standard for future trials/evaluations of ABIs as the recommended minimum and does not limit other outcomes relevant to your trial. It can improve synthesis of new trial findings, between-study comparisons, citations/use of research, and enhance utility of findings for decision makers. It can reduce redundant or selective measurement (reporting only some, usually significant outcomes). However, this will only be possible if our ABI/SBIRT community use it and we invite feedback to support its use.

Period	22 Sept 2021 → 24 Sept 2021
Event title	17th Annual Conference of the International Network on Brief Interventions for Alcohol and Other Drugs (INEBRIA)
Event type	Conference
Location	Goa, IndiaShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International