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Published on: January 5, 2018
Effects of a minimal-guided on-line intervention for alcohol misuse in Estonia: a randomized controlled trial
Mareike Augsburger1, Esta Kaal2,3, Triin Ülesoo2
1University of Zurich; Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction ISGF, Zurich, Switzerland.
Background And Aims:
Estonia has one of the highest alcohol-attributable mortality rates within the European Union. The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy of an on-line self-help intervention to reduce problem drinking at the population level.
Design:
On-line open randomized controlled trial with an 8-week intervention and an active control group (intervention n = 303, control n = 286). Assessments took place at baseline and at 6 months follow-up.
Setting:
On- and offline channels were used for population-based recruitment within a nation-wide prevention campaign in Estonia.
Participants:
Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years, heavy drinking [Alcohol Use Disorders Identification (AUDIT) test score ≥ 8], literacy in Estonian and at least weekly access to the internet; n = 589 participants were randomized (50% male, 1% other; mean age 37.86 years; 45% with higher level of education).
Intervention And Comparator:
The intervention consisted of 10 modules based on principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. The active control group received access to a website with a self-test including personalized normative feedback and information for standard alcohol treatment.
Measurements:
The primary outcome was AUDIT scores at 6 months follow-up adjusted for baseline scores.
Findings:
Intention-to-treat analyses were applied. Missing data were addressed by using baseline observation carried forward (BOCF) and multiple imputation by chained equations (MI); 175 completed follow-up in the intervention group and 209 in the control group. AUDIT score at follow-up was significantly smaller in the intervention [BOCF mean = 13.91, standard deviation (SD) = 7.61, MI mean = 11.03, SD = 6.55] than control group (BOCF mean = 15.30, SD = 7.31; MI mean = 14.30, SD = 7.21), with a group difference of -1.38 [95% confidence interval (CI) = -2.58, -0.18], P = 0.02 for BOCF and -3.26 (95% CI = -2.01, -4.51), P < 0.001 for MI.
Conclusions:
A randomized controlled trial has found that an on-line self-help intervention with minimal guidance was effective at reducing problem drinking in Estonia.
