Perae / Shahrp Brazil Feasibility Study: Preliminary Results on Knowledge and Alcohol Consumption

Harm reduction approach has a recent history in primary prevention settings and has been well accepted in countries with different socioeconomic backgrounds, but it is needed more scientific evidence for results in short and long terms. SHAHRP (School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project) is a school-based curriculum program developed in Australia which has showed impact in reducing harms and alcohol consumption in students by using a harm reduction approach. SHAHRP program was adapted to Brazilian context where is called PERAE. The objective was to determine the difference between PERAE group and control group regarding to knowledge about risks of alcohol intake and metabolism, lifetime and last six months alcohol use. It was a quasi-experimental design, composed by a convenience sample (8 schools) randomly assigned to control (n=188) and PERAE (n=178) groups, 4 schools in each condition. PERAE group received 8 sessions of the program, one per week. Both groups answered to a self-report questionnaire before and six months after PERAE had begun. Students were at grade 8 (12-13 years old) and 52% were males. PERAE group (mean=9.5; sd=3.2) had knowledge significantly higher (F= 48.4; p=0.000) than control group (mean=7.7, sd=2.4) after the intervention. Lifetime alcohol use increased 4% for control and 3% for PERAE group. The last six months alcohol use increased 3% in both groups, among those who had already tasted alcohol.  PERAE approach seems to stimulate new cases of alcohol intake as well as do not increase consumption among who have already used, besides, this program improves practical knowledge regarding alcohol use situations. Data indicates that PERAE might be feasible to Brazilian context and a randomized control trial with bigger sample and longer follow up deserve to be done to verify if the Australian results of the program are replicated in Brazil. 

Acknowledgement: FAPESP – Sao Paulo Research Foundation, CNPq - National Council for Scientific and Technological Development,   NDRI – National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University – Australia (WA).