Randomized controlled trial of proactive web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention for university students.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: University students drink more heavily than their nonstudent peers and are often unaware that their drinking is risky and exceeds normative levels. We tested the efficacy of a proactive Web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention program. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at an Australian university in 2007. Invitations were sent to 13 000 undergraduates (age range, 17-24 years) to complete a Web-based Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Of 7237 students who responded, 2435 scored in the hazardous/harmful range (> or =8) and were randomized, and 2050 (84%) completed at least 1 follow-up assessment. Intervention was 10 minutes of Web-based motivational assessment and personalized feedback. Controls received only screening. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 1 and 6 months with observers and participants blinded to allocation. Outcome measures were drinking frequency, typical occasion quantity, overall volume, number of personal problems, an academic problems score, prevalence of binge drinking, and prevalence of heavy drinking. RESULTS: Mean (SD) baseline Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores for control and intervention groups were 14.3 (5.1) and 14.2 (5.1), respectively. After 1 month, participants receiving intervention drank less often (rate ratio [RR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.94), smaller quantities per occasion (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98), and less alcohol overall (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78-0.90) than did controls. Differences in alcohol-related harms were nonsignificant. At 6 months, intervention effects persisted for drinking frequency (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.97) and overall volume (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.96) but not for other variables. CONCLUSION: Proactive Web-based screening and intervention reduces drinking in undergraduates, and such a program could be implemented widely.

Author information

Author/s: Kypri, Kypros (K); Hallett, Jonathan (J); Howat, Peter (P); McManus, Alexandra (A); Maycock, Bruce (B); Bowe, Steven (S); Horton, Nicholas J (NJ);

Affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, David Maddison Clinical Sciences Bldg, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia. kypros.kypri(-atsign-)newcastle.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 169 (issue 16) : pp 1508-14

Dates: Created 2009/09/15; Completed 2009/10/02;

PMID: 19752409, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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