Effectiveness of Transitional Care Program for Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Readmissions Led by Advanced Practice Nurse: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Jarunee Ratsamesuviwat; Chuleeporn Pusopa; Saowaluck Settheekul

doi:10.60099/prijnr.2026.280446

Authors

Jarunee Ratsamesuviwat Suanprung Psychiatric Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chuleeporn Pusopa ฺ Faculty of Nursing, Praboromarajchanok Institute, Mueang, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Saowaluck Settheekul Independent Researcher, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60099/prijnr.2026.280446

Keywords:

Advanced practice nurse, Alcohol consumption, Alcohol use disorder, Readmission, Transitional care program

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder significantly increases morbidity and hospital utilization in Thailand. Coordinated, patient-centered transitional care bridges hospital and home settings to reduce post-discharge readmissions. This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a transitional care program in reducing alcohol consumption and hospital readmissions in people with alcohol use disorder, led by a nurse practitioner. Eighty-six people with alcohol use disorder were purposively recruited and randomly allocated to either the intervention (n = 43) or the comparison group (n = 43). The comparison group received only usual care, while the intervention group received the transitional care program in addition to usual care, which included hospital-based education, behavioral skills training, and post-discharge nurse consultations. Data were collected using a Demographic Data Sheet, the Time Line Follow Back, and a Hospital Readmission Record Form. A mixed-design analysis of variance was used to compare outcomes for alcohol consumption (heavy drinking days and abstinent days) and hospital readmissions, both within and between groups at baseline, 28 days, and 90 days post-discharge.

At 28- and 90-day post-discharge, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in heavy drinking days and an increase in abstinent days compared with the comparison group. Additionally, hospital readmissions at both time points were significantly reduced in the intervention group. These findings support the effectiveness of the advanced practice nurse-led program in reducing alcohol consumption and hospital readmissions among individuals with alcohol use disorder. Therefore, nurses, particularly those with advanced practice competencies, should consider integrating this program into routine hospital care to reduce alcohol consumption among this population. However, rigorous testing in other settings with larger sample sizes is recommended.

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