Professional Development to Improve Responsible Beverage Service Training: Formative Research Results and Protocol...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Alcohol Policy

Background:

• Driving while intoxicated remains a significant public health concern requiring improved interventions.
• Responsible beverage service (RBS) training has demonstrated success in reducing alcohol service to intoxicated patrons.
• Ongoing professional development may enhance the long-term efficacy of RBS training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a professional development component to augment existing web-based RBS training.
• To improve the effectiveness of RBS interventions by addressing the gap between initial training and retraining.

Main Methods:

• A 2-phase project involving formative research (interviews, focus groups, surveys) and prototype development (WayToServe Plus).
• The prototype, delivered via social media, was evaluated for usability and appropriateness.
• A 12-month randomized field trial will assess the impact of the professional development component on licensed establishments' refusal rates.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders (owners, managers, servers) supported the need for ongoing RBS professional development.
• A prototype social media-based professional development component was successfully created and found to be highly usable.
• Servers receiving the professional development component showed increased self-efficacy and response efficacy for RBS.

Conclusions:

• An ongoing professional development component for RBS is perceived as beneficial by servers and management.
• Servers expressed interest in and engagement with the developed program.
• The professional development component shows potential to enhance RBS training effectiveness by improving key mediators.