None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Young adults have the highest alcohol consumption of any age group. Within this high risk age group, university students stand out, consuming more alcohol than their non-university attending peers. As a result, university students not only have a higher incidence of alcohol use disorders, but also report a higher incidence of harm resulting from alcohol. A number of factors have been implicated in this increase in alcohol use at university, however, new research suggests that drinking during certain events (e.g., Orientation Week) may have a flow on effect and influence the number of drinks students consume throughout the year. The primary aim of the research project is to reduce overall alcohol consumption by university students (i.e., alcohol consumed during the academic year) and to determine whether text message interventions during Orientation Week and the academic year can have an impact on alcohol use over an above an online intervention alone. We hypothesize that an ecological momentary intervention (EMI) aimed at Orientation Week and the academic year will reduce the amount of alcohol use throughout both Orientation Week and throughout the year over and above a condition who only received an online intervention.
Interventions
All participants will receive a computer delivered intervention prior to Orientation Week. The computer delivered intervention will combine aspects of social norms, provide information on AUDIT score, BAC, risk of alcohol-related consequences, long-term consequences, and protective behavioural strategies. The intervention will be delivered after participants' initial survey and include sections of text with feedback about their drinking. The online intervention will take approximately 5-10 minu
All participants will receive a computer delivered intervention prior to Orientation Week. The computer delivered intervention will combine aspects of social norms, provide information on AUDIT score, BAC, risk of alcohol-related consequences, long-term consequences, and protective behavioural strategies. The intervention will be delivered after participants' initial survey and include sections of text with feedback about their drinking. The online intervention will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and is to be completed by participants prior to Orientation Week. Following the online aspect, participants will be assigned to one of 4 conditions outlined below, All conditions will be asked to respond to 2 Orientation Week messages and 7 fortnightly text messages asking them to report their drinking from the past 3 days (e.g., 'How many standard drinks did you consume Thurs, Fri, Sat? Please TB like this 5, 0, 1).: 1. Orientation Week Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and Academic Year EMA: Participants in this condition will only receive messages asking them to report their alcohol use during Orientation Week and fortnightly throughout the academic year. 2. Orientation Week Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) and Academic Year EMA: Participants will be sent intervention text messages twice a day (at 1pm and 7pm) on the Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Orientation Week. The 1pm messages will remind participants of a protective behavioural strategy presented in the online intervention. The 7pm messages will contain a social consequence of alcohol use. These participants will also receive messages during Orientation Week and fortnightly throughout the year asking them to report their drinking from the past 3 days. 3. Orientation Week EMA and Academic Year EMI: Participants in this condition will receive intervention text messages fortnightly during the first semester. These messages will be sent on a Wednesday reminding participants of the drinking norms (tailored to gender). These participants will also receive messages during Orientation Week and fortnightly throughout the year asking them to report their drinking from the past 3 days. 4. Orientation Week EMI and Academic Year EMI: Participants will receive both the Orientation Week and Academic Year EMIs described above. These participants will also receive messages during Orientation Week and fortnightly throughout the year asking them to report their drinking from the past 3 days. All participants will also fill out a questionnaire at the start and end of the semester (baseline and 3 months) asking them to report the number of alcohol related consequences they experienced over the past 3 months (B-YAACQ) as well as alcohol use over the last week and the AUDIT.
Sponsors
University of Otago, Department of Psychology
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Must be a full time first year student residing at a residential college.
Exclusion criteria
Students who do not live at a residential college.
Outcome results
None listed