Vida Pura: Feasibility of Culturally Adapted Screening and Brief Intervention for Latino Day Laborers

Aim: Research suggests that Latino day laborers cope are increased risk for unhealthy alcohol use due to their exposure to social stressors.  The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of culturally adapted screening and brief intervention (SBI) to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in this population.

Methods:  We conducted qualitative interviews with Latino day laborers and social service to inform the cultural adaptation of screening and brief interventions.  Interview recordings were transcribed, then transcripts were coded and analyzed in Atlas.ti.   Case summaries and coded quotations were reviewed for prevalent themes. Themes were used to identify sources of mismatch between traditional SBI and the target population.  The adapted intervention was then pilot tested to assess the feasibility and potential effectiveness.  In the pilot test, men were screened (N = 104) using the AUDIT and men with a score ≥ 6 were offered a brief intervention (N = 65).  Those receiving an intervention completed follow-up surveys at 2 and 8 eight weeks. Alcohol use was assessed using the AUDIT and 14 day timeline follow-back.

Results: Findings from the qualitative interviews indicated that unhealthy drinking was common among Latino day laborers.  Their drinking was related to and helped relieve immigration-related stressors.  Men preferred to receive information from trusted providers in Spanish.  They faced many barriers to accessing health and social services and few culturally-appropriate alcohol-related services existed.  Based on these findings, we adapted SBI to incorporate the social and cultural context of Latino day laborers.  SBI was provided in a community setting (at a day labor worker center) by bilingual community health workers.  Men were receptive to SBI during the pilot test.  Results from the pilot test confirmed that unhealthy alcohol use was prevalent (average of 8.5 drinks per drinking day and 4 drinking days in past 14 days among intervention group).  We were able reach 62% of the men at the 2 weeks and 57% at 8 week follow-up.  Mean AUDIT scores among those receiving the intervention went from 18.7 at baseline, to 13.5 at 2 weeks, and 14.8 at 8 weeks.

Conclusion:  SBI was adapted to address issues specific to Latino day labors.  Participants in the pilot test were willing to participate and results suggest the intervention may decrease unhealthy alcohol use.