Aims
To synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of behavioural interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption among people living with cancer.
Methods
Five databases were systematically searched for randomised controlled trials published between January 2000 and April 2025 reporting behavioural interventions that addressed alcohol consumption among people living with cancer. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool. Meta-analysis was not feasible given substantial heterogeneity and the small number of eligible studies, so a TIDieR-guided narrative synthesis with vote counting was undertaken.
Results
Eight trials (n=1,437) were included. Two targeted alcohol reduction specifically, whilst the remaining six addressed alcohol use within broader multiple health behaviour interventions. Alcohol intake was assessed by self-report using heterogeneous measures. At two to three months, all five reporting studies favoured the intervention (100%, 95% CI 57 to 100%, p=0.063). At five to six months, 57% of seven studies indicated benefit (95% CI 25 to 84%, p=0.125), and at twelve months, 67% of three studies favoured the intervention (95% CI 21 to 94%, p=0.500). All studies were rated as having unclear or high risk of bias. These vote-counting results warrant cautious interpretation, as effect-direction methods do not confirm the presence or magnitude of a true intervention effect.
Conclusions
Heterogeneity across studies was substantial and there is insufficient evidence that health behaviour interventions effectively reduce alcohol consumption among people living with cancer.
Significance
Further research should examine the behavioural mechanisms driving alcohol use among people living with cancer and prioritise the development of alcohol-specific interventions tailored to their needs.