Alcohol Drinking in College
Conditions
Keywords
chat-based intervention, alcohol brief intervention, high-risk drinking, university students, AUDIT, instant messaging, WhatsApp
Brief summary
The aims of this pilot study are: 1. To examine the factors associated with alcohol drinking and alcohol use disorder 2. To examine the effect of face-to-face alcohol brief intervention on drinking reduction 3. To examine the effect of a continuous interactive chat-based intervention via WhatsApp on drinking reduction 4. To explore the perception of face-to-face alcohol brief intervention 5. To explore the perception of continuous interactive chat-based intervention via instant messaging mobile application WhatsApp
Detailed description
According to the Department of Health, majority of people in Hong Kong started to develop drinking habit at 18-21 years of age in 2014/2015. Amongst them, 16.8% had scored higher than 3 in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C) (an abbreviated version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, or AUDIT, designed by the World Health Organization(WHO)), while 3.5% had even scored 8 or above in the test. With higher prevalence to begin drinking within 18 and 23 years old, university students could have established higher tendency of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence as compared with other age groups. Therefore, early interventions such as the evidence-based Alcohol Brief Intervention (ABI) suggested by the WHO are particularly needed to target university drinkers who are 5% more likely to develop higher frequency of drinking in later of their lives compared with other age groups.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMobile chat-based instant messages
Subjects in the active arm study will receive continuous interactive chat-based intervention as an extension of alcohol brief intervention at baseline. The interactive mobile chat will be carried out on Friday night and Saturday before and during the period of happy hour and ask for drinking and giving personalized advises on drinking reduction using behavioral change techniques.
BEHAVIORALAlcohol brief intervention
Those in the control arm will be assigned to only receive the face-to-face ABI. The ABI consists of: (1) giving feedback and information about the screening result in phase I and hazard of drinking; (2) emphasizing the benefits of reduce drinking and informing about alcohol problems; (3) setting goal on reducing alcohol consumption; (4) reviewing advice and ;(5) giving encouragement.
Sponsors
The University of Hong Kong
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 26 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Hong Kong resident aged 18 to 26 inclusive * Scored 5-19 inclusive in the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) * Able to communicate in Chinese and read Chinese * Using a phone with instant messaging mobile application WhatsApp installed for communication
Exclusion criteria
* Students with communication barrier (either physically or cognitively) * Currently participating in other alcohol treatment services or clinics.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in AUDIT score | 2 weeks after baseline | Assessed by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (ranged 0-40 with higher score indicating problematic alcohol use) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in confidence to reduce drinking | 2 weeks after baseline | Defined by either increase or decrease confidence in reduce drinking |
| Change in number of standard drinks | 2 weeks after baseline | Defined by either increase or decrease in standard drinks number |
| Attempt to reduce drinking | 2 weeks after baseline | Have tried to reduce drinking either successful or not |
Countries
Hong Kong
Outcome results
None listed