A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Efficacy of a Brief Online Alcohol Intervention for High School Seniors

• Published in: Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 706 - 715
• Main Authors: Doumas, Diana M, Esp, Susan, Flay, Brian, Bond, Laura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc 01-09-2017; Rutgers University
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control; Alcohol use; Brief interventions; Clinical and Health Services Research; Clinical trials; Drinking behavior; Drug education; Efficacy; Feedback; Female; High risk; Humans; Internet; Intoxication; Male; Risk assessment; Secondary school students; Secondary schools; Social networks; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1937-1888; 1938-4114
• DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2017.78.706

The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to examine the efficacy of a brief, web-based personalized feedback intervention (the eCHECKUP TO GO) on alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences among high school seniors.
Participants (n = 221) were high school seniors randomized by class period to either a brief, web-based personalized feedback intervention (the eCHECKUP TO GO) or an assessment-only control group. Participants completed online surveys at baseline and at a 6-week follow-up.
Students participating in the eCHECKUP TO GO intervention reported a significant reduction in weekly drinking quantity, peak drinking quantity, and frequency of drinking to intoxication relative to those in the control group. Intervention effects were moderated by high-risk status (one or more episodes of heavy episodic drinking in the past 2 weeks reported at baseline) such that intervention effects were significant for high-risk students only. Results for alcohol-related consequences were not significant.
Providing a brief, web-based personalized feedback intervention in the school setting is a promising approach for reducing problem alcohol use among high school seniors who report recent heavy episodic drinking.