Using innovative video doctor technology in primary care to deliver brief smoking and alcohol intervention.

Given physicians' increased responsibilities and time constraints, it is increasingly difficult for primary care physicians to assume a major role in delivering smoking and alcohol assessment and intervention. The authors developed an innovative use of computer technology in the form of a "video doctor" to support physicians with this. In this article, two brief interventions, delivered by an interactive, multimedia video doctor, that reduce primary care patients' smoking and alcohol use are detailed: (a) a patient-centered advice message and (b) a brief motivational intervention.