Design, implementation and evaluation of a web-based computer-tailored intervention to prevent binge drinking in...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Binge drinking among adolescents presents significant physical, mental, and community health challenges.
• This paper details the development and assessment of a novel web-based, computer-tailored intervention for Spanish adolescents.
• The intervention specifically targets the prevention of binge drinking behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of the Alerta Alcohol program.
• To culturally adapt the intervention using focus and Delphi groups.
• To test the Alerta Alcohol program's efficacy in reducing adolescent binge drinking via a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Main Methods:

• A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial involving 16 high schools in Andalusia, Spain, with students aged 16-18 years.
• The intervention group received the Alerta Alcohol program (four school sessions, two home booster sessions) based on the I-Change Model.
• The control group received standard care, with evaluation after four months focusing on binge drinking prevalence and alcohol use.

Main Results:

• The Alerta Alcohol program is expected to reduce binge drinking prevalence by 10%.
• Effectiveness will be analyzed based on program compliance and implementation quality.
• Follow-up analyses will identify differences in effectiveness across subgroups.

Conclusions:

• The Alerta Alcohol program has the potential to improve healthcare and education systems' practices.
• If proven effective, the program's implementation could be expanded regionally and nationally.
• This study provides a framework for digital health interventions in adolescent substance abuse prevention.