A brief online psychosocial intervention to reduce binge drinking in new university students

A brief theory-based online intervention to reduce binge drinking in new university students: Targeting reception, motivation, and volition at a teachable moment

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN84252967

Enrollment

2000

Registered

2014-07-02

Start date

2014-09-08

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2018-02-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alcohol consumption Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

Participants will be randomised to condition in a 2 (self-affirmation: yes, no) × 2 (theory-based messages: yes, no) × 2 (implementation intention: yes, no) between-participants factorial design. Par

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All incoming undergraduate students (in 2014) to the University of Sheffield

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Not provided at time of registration

Design outcomes

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
The experimental groups will also be compared on the following secondary outcome measures: 1. AUDIT (Babor et al., 2001) scores (six-month follow-up) 2. Direct measures of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1988) constructs ? attitude, subjective norms, descriptive norms, self-efficacy, perceived control and intention (post-intervention, one month and six months) 3. Belief strength (Ajzen, 1988) ? beliefs targeted in the messages (post-intervention, one month and six months)	—

Measure

Time frame

The experimental groups will also be compared on the following secondary outcome measures: 1. AUDIT (Babor et al., 2001) scores (six-month follow-up) 2. Direct measures of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1988) constructs ? attitude, subjective norms, descriptive norms, self-efficacy, perceived control and intention (post-intervention, one month and six months) 3. Belief strength (Ajzen, 1988) ? beliefs targeted in the messages (post-intervention, one month and six months)

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Primary

Measure	Time frame
The experimental groups will be compared on the following primary outcome measures at six-month follow-up (controlling for baseline measures): 1. Number of units of alcohol consumed in a typical week assessed using a retrospective seven-day alcohol diary (Gmel & Rehm, 2004). 2. Number of binge drinking sessions in a typical week. The experimental groups will also be compared on these measures at one-week, one-month and six-month follow-ups.	—

Measure

Time frame

The experimental groups will be compared on the following primary outcome measures at six-month follow-up (controlling for baseline measures): 1. Number of units of alcohol consumed in a typical week assessed using a retrospective seven-day alcohol diary (Gmel & Rehm, 2004). 2. Number of binge drinking sessions in a typical week. The experimental groups will also be compared on these measures at one-week, one-month and six-month follow-ups.

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026