Randomised controlled trial to estimate the effect of web-based screening and brief intervention on alcohol consumption in students aged 17-25 years at New Zealand universities

Participants in the intervention group complete the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Items 1 -3 (AUDIT-C items) and the AUDIT items 4-10, they will also complete questions concerning the largest number of standard drinks consumed on one occasion in the last four weeks, the duration of the drinking episode in hours, and their body weight for the purpose of estimating their blood alcohol concentration. They then complete the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ; 10 items). The approximate duration of the screening part of the intervention will be 10 minutes. The mode of intervention of the screening is a web-based questionnaire. The intervention group will then receive personalised feedback (web-based information, provided immediately following screening, duration approximately 10 minutes, provided via computer generated information taking the participants answers into account so that the feedback is personalised) consisting of: their AUDIT score, an LDQ score, with an explanation of the associated health risk and information about how to reduce that risk; an estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for the respondent’s heaviest episode in the previous four weeks, with information on the behavioural and physiological sequelae of various BACs, and traffic crash relative risk; estimates of monetary expenditure per month and year (estimates are for alcohol purchased); bar graphs comparing episodic and weekly consumption with that of other students of the same age and gender; and hyperlinks for help with drinking problems. Further web pages will be presented as options, offering facts about alcohol, tips for reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm, and where medical help and counselling support could be found. Participants will be contacted for follow up 5 months later (12 months follow up is intended but subject to funding)