Change IS Possible: Reducing High-Risk Drinking Using a Collaborative Improvement Model

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 330 - 336
• Main Authors: Lanter, Patricia L, Wolff, Kristina B, Johnson, Lisa C, Ercolano, Ellyn M, Kilmer, Jason R, Provost, Lloyd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Inc 04-07-2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol use; College students; Data collection; Female; Humans; Models, Theoretical; Public health; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Risk; Social Environment; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Universities - statistics & numerical data; Young Adult; learning collaborative; Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA); high-risk drinking; model for improvement; measurement
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2015.1015021

To describe the adoption of public health and improvement methodologies to address college students' high-risk drinking behaviors and to aid in prevention efforts.
Members of 32 colleges and universities, content experts, and staff members of the National College Health Improvement Program (NCHIP).
A 2-year learning collaborative developed by NCHIP trained individuals from 32 different college and universities in using the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle as a method to create and implement initiatives aimed at reducing students' high-risk drinking behaviors and related harms.
Participants experienced success ranging from noteworthy increases in type and amount of interventions directed at reducing high-risk drinking, to creating collaboratives across campus, the local community, and stakeholders. Challenges related to data collection and creating lasting cultural change remain.
The use of quality improvement methodologies and creation of a national collaborative successfully effected meaningful change in high-risk drinking behaviors on college campuses.