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Developing a Text Messaging Intervention to Prevent Binge and Heavy Drinking in a Military Population: Mixed Methods
Chase A Aycock1, Indika Mallawaarachchi2, Xin-Qun Wang2
1United States Air Force, 37th Human Performance Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, United States.
JMIR Formative Research
|March 19, 2024
Summary
This study developed an SMS text messaging intervention to reduce binge and heavy drinking among Air Force personnel. The intervention uses behavior change techniques and is tailored to the military population, now being tested in an efficacy trial.
Area of Science:
- Military Health
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health Interventions
Background:
- Alcohol misuse is a significant problem in the US military, contributing to mortality.
- Existing brief alcohol interventions show promise, but scalable solutions for binge and heavy drinking are needed.
- SMS text messaging offers a potential scalable intervention for military populations, yet programs are currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an SMS text messaging intervention tailored to reduce binge and heavy drinking among US Air Force Airmen in Technical Training.
- To incorporate evidence-based behavior change techniques (BCTs) informed by target population feedback.
Main Methods:
- A 2-phase, mixed-methods study was conducted to develop the intervention.
- Phase 1 involved feedback on 49 expert-developed messages from 149 respondents, including message persuasiveness and preferences.
- Phase 2 involved feedback on 77 new messages from 283 respondents, assessing persuasiveness and coding against the Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (BCTT).
Main Results:
- Top message themes included warnings about adverse outcomes, recommendations, and invoking values/goals.
- Respondents preferred 1-3 messages weekly, primarily on weekends.
- The final library contains 28 BCTT-informed messages, with top-rated messages focusing on valued self-identity and health consequences, tailored for different age groups.
Conclusions:
- A BCTT-informed SMS text messaging intervention was successfully developed with input from the target military population.
- The intervention is now undergoing an efficacy trial to determine its impact on binge drinking and alcohol consumption in the US Air Force.
Keywords:
Air ForceAirmenSMSSMS interventionUSUS militaryUnited Statesalcohol consumptionalcohol misusealcohol reductionbinge drinkingcareercareersdescriptive statisticsdevelopment studydrinkingdrinking alcoholfunctioninghealthmessagemessagesmilitarymixed methods approachqualitative codingreadinessshort message servicesurveytext messagetext messagestext messagingMore Related Videos
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