Web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention for university students: a randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Substance Use Research

Background:

• Unhealthy alcohol use is a major global health issue, especially among young adults.
• Web-based interventions show promise, necessitating effectiveness trials in real-world settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a national web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention program for university students.
• Assess the program's impact on alcohol consumption, academic problems, and risky drinking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A multisite, randomized controlled trial involving 14,991 university students aged 17-24.
• Participants with positive AUDIT-C scores were randomized to screening alone or brief intervention.
• Outcomes measured included consumption, drinking frequency, academic problems, and binge/heavy drinking, with 5-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant reduction in alcohol consumed per typical occasion (RR 0.93, P=.005) was observed, but this finding was not robust in sensitivity analysis.
• No significant reductions were found in drinking frequency, overall volume, or academic problems.
• Effects on binge and heavy drinking risks were not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• The national web-based program did not yield significant reductions in overall alcohol consumption, drinking frequency, or academic issues.
• Further research may be needed to optimize web-based interventions for young adults.
• A potential small effect on consumption per occasion warrants further investigation.