Quik Fix

Evidence Type:

Evidence-informed programs

Client outcomes:

Emotional regulation and self-regulation

Location:

Australia

Strength of evidence:

Promising research evidence

Direction of effect:

Positive

About the program

Quik Fix is a brief motivational interviewing intervention (BMI) targeting alcohol/cannabis use and psychological distress in young people. It consists of a brief assessment, personalised assessment feedback, psychoeducation (using an information brochure), motivational interviewing and brief coping skills training.

The overall goal of Quik Fix is to reduce psychological distress and alcohol/cannabis use among young people.

Who does it work for?

Quik Fix is designed for young people aged 16-25 years old.

The Quik Fix study was conducted with 61 participants aged 16-25 years, 19 years old on average. A randomised control trial (Hides et al. 2013) was conducted with 61 participants Participants were mostly single (57%) and most lived with families (74%). Half of the participants (50%) were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder in their lifetime and were currently medicated.

Quik Fix has been evaluated in Australia however is yet to be evaluated with Aboriginal Australians.

What outcomes does it contribute to?

Positive outcomes:

Quik Fix participants were significantly more likely to report significant reduction in psychological distress

How effective is it?

Overall, Quik Fix had a positive effect on client outcomes.

How strong is the evidence?

Promising research evidence:

At least one high-quality randomised controlled trial (RCT)/quasi-experimental design (QED) study reports statistically significant positive effects for at least one outcome, AND
Fewer RCT/QED studies of similar size and quality show no observed effects than show statistically significant positive effects, AND
No RCT/QED studies show statistically significant adverse effects.

How is it implemented?

Quik Fix is delivered across 2-3 sessions, each lasting approximately 1 hour. Each motivational interviewing session is delivered via telephone.

How much does it cost?

The costs for Quik Fix were not reported in the study.

Where does the evidence come from?

1 RCT conducted in Australia with a sample of 61 participants (Hides et al., 2020).

Further resources

Hides, L, Carroll, S, Scott, R, Cotton, S, Baker, A, & Lubman, D 2013, ‘Quik fix: A randomized controlled trial of an enhanced brief motivational interviewing intervention for alcohol/cannabis and psychological distress in young people’, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, vol. 82, pp. 122-124, DOI 10.1159/000341921.