Bewick, B.M., Trusler, K., Mulhern, B. et al. (2 more authors) (2008) The feasibility and effectiveness of a web-based personalised feedback and social norms alcohol intervention in UK university students: A randomised control trial. Addictive Behaviors, 33 (9). pp. 1192-1198. ISSN 0306-4603
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol misuse amongst University students is a serious concern, and research has started to investigate the feasibility of using e-health interventions. This study aimed to establish the effectiveness of an electronic web-based personalised feedback intervention through the use of a randomised control trial (RCT).
METHODS
506 participants were stratified by gender, age group, year of study, self-reported weekly consumption of alcohol and randomly assigned to either a control or intervention condition. Intervention participants received electronic personalised feedback and social norms information on their drinking behaviour which they could access by logging onto the website at any time during the 12-week period. CAGE score, average number of alcoholic drinks consumed per drinking occasion, and alcohol consumption over the last week were collected from participants at pre- and post-survey.
RESULTS
A significant difference in pre- to post-survey mean difference of alcohol consumed per occasion was found, with those in the intervention condition displaying a larger mean decrease when compared to controls. No intervention effect was found for units of alcohol consumed per week or for CAGE scores. Sixty-three percent of intervention participants agreed that the feedback provided was useful. Those intervention participants who were above the CAGE cut off were more likely to report that the website would make them think more about the amount they drank.
CONCLUSIONS
Delivering an electronic personalised feedback intervention to students via the World Wide Web is a feasible and potentially effective method of reducing student alcohol intake. Further research is needed to replicate this outcome, evaluate maintenance of any changes, and investigate the process of interaction with web-based interventions.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2008 Elsevier B.V. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Addictive Behaviour. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield, The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > University of Sheffield Research Centres and Institutes > Centre for Psychological Services Research (Sheffield) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Sherpa Assistant |
Date Deposited: | 28 Aug 2008 15:05 |
Last Modified: | 16 Sep 2016 13:36 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.05.002 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier B.V. |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.05.002 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:4472 |