Reducing Alcohol Use in First-Year University Students: Evaluation of a Web-Based Personalized Feedback Program

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana M. Doumas ◽  
Lorna L. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
University Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Personalized Feedback ◽  
Web Based ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Feedback Program

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Combined Web-Based and Ecological Momentary Intervention for Incoming First-Year University Students: Protocol for a 3-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin C Riordan ◽  
Saleh Moradi ◽  
Kate B Carey ◽  
Tamlin S Conner ◽  
Kyungho Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
University Students ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
First Year ◽  
Personalized Feedback ◽  
Web Based ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Orientation Week ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
First Year University

BACKGROUND Alcohol use among university students is common, and those who drink often choose to drink heavily (ie, 4 or more drinks per session for women or 5 or more for men). Web-based interventions (WBIs), in which students complete assessments and receive personalized feedback about their alcohol use, and ecological momentary interventions (EMIs), which use mobile devices as a method of delivering intervention information, are 2 methods that have had some success in reducing alcohol use among university students. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a combined WBI and EMI intervention to reduce alcohol use among university students. METHODS The study is a 3-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomized into either a WBI+EMI condition, a WBI-only condition, or an assessment-only control. Our sample will consist of first-year university students, recruited through 5 residential colleges at the University of Otago, New Zealand. All participants will complete an online survey at baseline (ie, before Orientation Week); those in the WBI-only and WBI+EMI conditions will immediately receive personalized feedback (ie, the WBI), whereas participants in the assessment-only condition will receive no feedback. In addition, participants randomized into the WBI+EMI, but not those in the WBI-only or assessment-only groups, will receive 8 Orientation Week (2 per day on nights with large social events) and 6 academic year EMIs (delivered fortnightly). Participants in all conditions will complete brief surveys at the end of the first and second semester and report their weekend alcohol use fortnightly throughout each semester via ecological momentary assessments. RESULTS The primary hypothesis is that participants in the WBI+EMI group will consume significantly fewer drinks during weekends in their first semester at university compared with WBI-only and assessment-only groups. Secondary hypotheses are that, when compared with the WBI-only and assessment-only groups, the WBI+EMI group will report consuming fewer drinks during Orientation Week, report experiencing fewer negative alcohol-related consequences after first semester, and report lower Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption scores following their first semester. CONCLUSIONS This study adds to a growing body of work investigating the utility of WBIs and EMIs in curbing alcohol consumption. In addition, the study will help to inform policy approaches aimed at curbing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in university students. CLINICALTRIAL Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618000015246; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=374104&isReview=true (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6z9jRLTz6) REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER RR1-10.2196/10164

scholarly journals The Impact of a Web-Based Mindfulness, Nutrition and Fitness Platform on the Health Status of First-Year University Students: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire F Trottier ◽  
Jessica RL Lieffers ◽  
Steven T Johnson ◽  
João F Mota ◽  
Roshni K Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
University Students ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
First Year University ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND First-year university students are at increased risk for presenting with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and poor nutritional status. Self-care plays an essential role in optimizing mental health and can prevent/treat stress, anxiety and depression. Web-based self-monitoring of diet and physical activity can lead to similar or improved health outcomes compared to conventional methods. Such tools are also popular among university students. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this 12-week randomized control trial was to assess the impact of a web-based wellness platform on perceived stress among first-year university students. The study’s secondary outcome was to assess the effects of the platform on diet quality and exploratory outcomes were body composition, health related quality of life, mindfulness, mental wellbeing and physical activity. METHODS Ninety-seven first-year undergraduate students were randomized to either the intervention (n=48) or control (n=49) group. The intervention consisted of access to a web-based platform called My Viva Plan® (MVP) which aims to support healthy living on the topics of mindfulness, nutrition, and fitness. The platform is fully automated and is guided by principals of cognitive behavior theory. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to use MVP as frequently as possible over 12 weeks. The control group did not receive access to MVP. Perceived stress was assessed using the Stress Indicators Questionnaire at baseline, week 6 and week 12. Three day food records were used to analyze dietary intake at baseline and week 12. Health related quality of life, mindfulness, mental wellbeing and physical activity questionnaires were completed at baseline, week 6 and week 12 and body composition was assessed at baseline and week 12. Study assessments were completed in-person at baseline and week 12 and electronically at week 6. RESULTS Study recruitment started in August 2018 with batch enrollment for students registered in the fall (September 2018 to December 2018) and winter (January 2019 to April 2019) academic terms at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. Eighty participants completed the 12-week trial (n=35 in the intervention group; n=45 in the control group). All data collection ended in May 2019. CONCLUSIONS This project is the first to explore the impact of an online platform designed to promote health and wellness; it will also shed light into its applicability in first-year university students. If successful, this may become an important health care tool for preventative care in first year university students. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03579264

Changes in Alcohol Use Among First Year University Students in Mexico

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Strunin ◽  
Alejandro Díaz-Martínez ◽  
L. Rosa Díaz-Martínez ◽  
Seth Kuranz ◽  
Carlos Hernández-Ávila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
University Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year University

scholarly journals Self-Regulation, Normative Beliefs, Alcohol Use and Consequences among University Students from Eastern Europe

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-485
Author(s):  
Ondrej Kalina ◽  
Olga Orosova ◽  
Vilma Kriaucioniene ◽  
Andrea Lukács ◽  
Michal Miovsky
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
University Students ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Normative Beliefs ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
First Year University

This study aims to explore the associations between descriptive normative beliefs (DNB), alcohol use and negative consequences and test whether self-regulation (SR) moderates this relationship. The data was collected online from 1621 first-year university students in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia. The AUDIT, self-regulation questionnaire and questions regarding DNB were used. DNB were found to be positively associated with drinking across all the samples. The associations between DNB and alcohol use as well as between alcohol use and negative consequences were stronger among students with lower SR. The protective effect of SR on alcohol use and consequences combined with the theory of social influence may improve intervention accuracy and make it a promising target for intervention among young adults.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Web-Based Mindfulness, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Platform on the Health Status of First-Year University Students: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/24534 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e24534
Author(s):  
Claire F Trottier ◽  
Jessica R L Lieffers ◽  
Steven T Johnson ◽  
João F Mota ◽  
Roshni K Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
University Students ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
First Year ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
First Year University ◽  
The Impact

Background First-year university students are at an increased risk for developing mental health issues and a poor nutritional status. Self-care plays an essential role in optimizing mental health and can prevent or manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Web-based self-monitoring of diet and physical activity can lead to similar or improved health outcomes compared with conventional methods. Such tools are also popular among university students. Objective The primary aim of this 12-week randomized controlled trial is to assess the impact of a web-based wellness platform on perceived stress among first-year university students. The secondary aim is to assess the effects of the platform on diet quality. The exploratory objectives are to explore the effects of the platform on body composition, health-related quality of life, mindfulness, mental well-being, and physical activity. Methods A total of 97 first-year undergraduate students were randomized to either the intervention (n=48) or control (n=49) group. The intervention consisted of access to a web-based platform called My Viva Plan (MVP), which aims to support healthy living by focusing on the topics of mindfulness, nutrition, and physical activity. The platform is fully automated and guided by the principles of cognitive behavioral theory. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to use the MVP as frequently as possible over 12 weeks. The control group did not receive access to MVP. Perceived stress was assessed using the Stress Indicators Questionnaire at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Three-day food records were used to analyze the dietary intake at baseline and week 12. Health-related quality of life, mindfulness, mental well-being, and physical activity questionnaires were completed at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Body composition was assessed at baseline and week 12. Study assessments were completed in person at baseline and week 12 and electronically at week 6. Results Study recruitment started in August 2018, with batch enrollment for students registered in the fall (September 2018 to December 2018) and winter (January 2019 to April 2019) academic terms at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. Conclusions This study is the first to explore the impact of a web-based platform designed to promote health and wellness on perceived stress and diet quality among first-year university students. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03579264; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03579264. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/24534

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