scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Text Messaging�Based Intervention Targeting Alcohol Consumption Among University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin Thomas ◽  
Ulrika Müssener ◽  
Catharina Linderoth ◽  
Nadine Karlsson ◽  
Preben Bendtsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
University Students ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Excessive Drinking ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Text Message Intervention

BACKGROUND Excessive drinking among university students is a global challenge, leading to significant health risks. However, heavy drinking among students is widely accepted and socially normalized. Mobile phone interventions have attempted to reach students who engage in excessive drinking. A growing number of studies suggest that text message–based interventions could potentially reach many students and, if effective, such an intervention might help reduce heavy drinking in the student community. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to test the effectiveness of a behavior change theory–based 6-week text message intervention among university students. METHODS This study was a two-arm, randomized controlled trial with an intervention group receiving a 6-week text message intervention and a control group that was referred to treatment as usual at the local student health care center. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and at 3 months after the initial invitation to participate in the intervention. The primary outcome was total weekly alcohol consumption. Secondary outcomes were frequency of heavy episodic drinking, highest estimated blood alcohol concentration, and number of negative consequences attributable to excessive drinking. RESULTS A total of 896 students were randomized to either the intervention or control group. The primary outcome analysis included 92.0% of the participants in the intervention group and 90.1% of the control group. At follow-up, total weekly alcohol consumption decreased in both groups, but no significant between-group difference was seen. Data on the secondary outcomes included 49.1% of the participants in the intervention group and 41.3% of the control group. No significant between-group difference was seen for any of the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The present study was under-powered, which could partly explain the lack of significance. However, the intervention, although theory-based, needs to be re-assessed and refined to better support the target group. Apart from establishing which content forms an effective intervention, the optimal length of an alcohol intervention targeting students also needs to be addressed in future studies. CLINICALTRIAL International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number ISRCTN95054707; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN95054707 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/70Ax4vXhd)

scholarly journals A Text Message�Based Intervention Targeting Alcohol Consumption Among University Students: User Satisfaction and Acceptability Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrika Müssener ◽  
Kristin Thomas ◽  
Catharina Linderoth ◽  
Matti Leijon ◽  
Marcus Bendtsen
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
University Students ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Randomized Controlled

BACKGROUND Heavy consumption of alcohol among university students is a global problem, with excessive drinking being the social norm. Students can be a difficult target group to reach, and only a minority seek alcohol-related support. It is important to develop interventions that can reach university students in a way that does not further stretch the resources of the health services. Text messaging (short message service, SMS)–based interventions can enable continuous, real-time, cost-effective, brief support in a real-world setting, but there is a limited amount of evidence for effective interventions on alcohol consumption among young people based on text messaging. To address this, a text messaging–based alcohol consumption intervention, the Amadeus 3 intervention, was developed. OBJECTIVE This study explored self-reported changes in drinking habits in an intervention group and a control group. Additionally, user satisfaction among the intervention group and the experience of being allocated to a control group were explored. METHODS Students allocated to the intervention group (n=460) were asked about their drinking habits and offered the opportunity to give their opinion on the structure and content of the intervention. Students in the control group (n=436) were asked about their drinking habits and their experience in being allocated to the control group. Participants received an email containing an electronic link to a short questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of the distribution of the responses to the 12 questions for the intervention group and 5 questions for the control group were performed. RESULTS The response rate for the user feedback questionnaire of the intervention group was 38% (176/460) and of the control group was 30% (129/436). The variation in the content of the text messages from facts to motivational and practical advice was appreciated by 77% (135/176) participants, and 55% (97/176) found the number of messages per week to be adequate. Overall, 81% (142/176) participants stated that they had read all or nearly all the messages, and 52% (91/176) participants stated that they were drinking less, and increased awareness regarding negative consequences was expressed as the main reason for reduced alcohol consumption. Among the participants in the control group, 40% (52/129) stated that it did not matter that they had to wait for access to the intervention. Regarding actions taken while waiting for access, 48% (62/129) participants claimed that they continued to drink as before, whereas 35% (45/129) tried to reduce their consumption without any support. CONCLUSIONS Although the main randomized controlled trial was not able to detect a statistically significant effect of the intervention, most participants in this qualitative follow-up study stated that participation in the study helped them reflect upon their consumption, leading to altered drinking habits and reduced alcohol consumption. CLINICALTRIAL International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number ISRCTN95054707; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN95054707 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/705putNZT)

scholarly journals Hybrid Tele and In-Clinic Occupation Based Intervention to Improve Women’s Daily Participation after Breast Cancer: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5966
Author(s):  
Khawla Loubani ◽  
Rachel Kizony ◽  
Uzi Milman ◽  
Naomi Schreuer
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Emotional Symptoms ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

Background: Women after breast cancer (BC) cope with decreased daily participation and quality of life (QOL) due to physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. This study examined a hybrid occupation-based intervention, Managing Participation with Breast Cancer (MaP-BC), to improve daily participation in their meaningful activities. Methods: Thirty-five women after BC phase were randomly allocated to the MaP-BC intervention (n = 18) or control (n = 17) group (standard care only). Assessments were administered at baseline (T1), 6-week (T2), and 12-week (T3) post-T1. Main outcome: perceived performance and performance-satisfaction with meaningful activities according to the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Secondary outcomes: retained activity levels (Activity Card Sort), QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast), cognitive abilities (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function), and upper-extremity functioning (Disability of Arm, Shoulder, Hand). Results showed significant interaction (group x time) effects for the primary outcome in performance, F(2,66) = 29.54, p = 0.001, ɳP2 = 0.472, and satisfaction, F(2,66) = 37.15, p = 0.000, ɳP2 = 0.530. The intervention group improved more in performance, t = 5.51, p = 0.0001, d = 1.298, and satisfaction, t = −5.32, p = 0.0001, d = 1.254, than the control group between T1 and T2. Secondary outcomes demonstrated within-group improvements. Conclusion: MaP-BC, a comprehensive occupation-based hybrid intervention tailored to women’s functional daily needs after BC, improved participation in meaningful activities within a short period.

A 6-Month Randomized Trial of a Smartphone Application, UControlDrink, in Aiding Recovery in Alcohol Use Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Conor Farren ◽  
Aoife Farrell ◽  
Aisling Hagerty ◽  
Cliodhna McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Control Group

<b><i>Background and Aims:</i></b> Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a substantial problem, causing early death and great economic burden. Research has highlighted the potential positive impact of technological interventions, such as smartphone applications (app) in treatment of AUD. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a smartphone app, incorporating computerized cognitive behavioural therapy and text messaging support, on alcohol outcomes over 6 months in a post-rehabilitation setting. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 111 participants with AUD were recruited into this randomized controlled trial, following completion of a 30-day rehabilitation programme. The intervention group (<i>n</i> = 54) used the smartphone app “UControlDrink” (UCD) over 6 months with treatment as usual (TAU), and the control group (<i>n</i> = 57) received TAU. All subjects suffered from AUD as the primary disorder, with other major psychiatric disorders excluded. All intervention subjects used the UCD smartphone app in the treatment trial, and all subjects underwent TAU consisting of outpatient weekly support groups. Drinking history in the previous 90 days was measured at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Additional measurements were made to assess mood, anxiety, craving, and motivation. Results were analysed using intention-to-treat analyses. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Retention in the study was 72% at 3 months and 52% at 6 months. There was a significant reduction in heavy drinking days in the intervention group relative to TAU over the 6 months, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.02. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The UCD smartphone app demonstrates a significant benefit to reducing heavy drinking days over a 6-month post-rehabilitation period in AUD.

Effects of a home-based physical training and activity promotion program in community-dwelling older persons with cognitive impairment after discharge from rehabilitation: A randomized controlled trial

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phoebe Ullrich ◽  
Christian Werner ◽  
Anton Schönstein ◽  
Martin Bongartz ◽  
Tobias Eckert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Physical Capacity ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Promotion Program ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Secondary Outcomes

Abstract Background Older people with cognitive impairment (CI) are at high risk for mobility limitations and adverse outcomes after discharge from geriatric rehabilitation settings. Study aim was to estimate the effects of a specifically designed home-based physical training and activity promotion program on physical capacity, different aspects of physical activity (PA), and psychosocial status. Methods Patients with mild-to-moderate CI (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]: 17-26 points) discharged home after rehabilitation were included in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 12-week intervention and 12-week follow-up period. The intervention group performed a CI-specific, autonomous, home-based strength, balance and walking training supported by tailored motivational strategies to foster training adherence and promote PA. The control group participated in an unspecific motor placebo activity. Primary outcomes were physical capacity (Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) and PA (sensor-based activity time). Results Among 118 randomized participants (82.3±6.0 years) with CI (MMSE: 23.3±2.4) and high levels of multi-morbidity, those participants undergoing home-based training demonstrated superior outcomes to the control group in SPPB (mean difference between groups 1.9 points; 95%-CI: 1.0-2.8; p&lt;.001), with persistent benefits over the follow-up (1.3 points; 95%-CI: 0.4-2.2; p&lt;.001). There were no differences in PA across any time points. Among secondary outcomes, fear of falling and activity avoidance behavior were reduced in the intervention group at all time points, life-space mobility improved short-term. Conclusions Study results demonstrate clinically important benefits of an individually tailored autonomous physical training and activity promotion program on physical capacity and secondary outcomes in different domains in a vulnerable, multi-morbid population.

Personalized drinking feedback : an event-specific text-message intervention

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jennifer Marie Cadigan
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Personalized Feedback ◽  
Alcohol Education ◽  
University Of Missouri ◽  
The University ◽  
Text Message Intervention

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] This study examined the efficacy and feasibility of an event-specific, text-message personalized feedback intervention (PFI) among 130 college students. Results indicated significant between-group differences for peak eBAC and drinks consumed when tailgating, with those in the text message PFI condition reporting a lower peak eBAC and less alcohol use than those in the text message alcohol education control group. Providing normative feedback on tailgating alcohol use in the PFI condition was effective in changing perceived drinking norms and alcohol consumption. This suggests the intervention was effective in correcting normative misperceptions of tailgating alcohol use, which was subsequently associated with reduced alcohol consumption. Findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy of an event-specific text-message PFI.

scholarly journals INOVASIA Study: A Randomized Open Controlled Trial to Evaluate Prophylactic Pravastatin in the Prevention of Preeclampsia and its Effects on sFlt1/PLGF Levels in Pregnant Women at High Risk of Developing Preeclampsia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ilham Aldika Akbar ◽  
Angelina Yosediputra ◽  
Raditya Eri Pratama ◽  
Nur Lailatul Fadhilah ◽  
Sulistyowati Sulistyowati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Perinatal Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Risk Factor ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
Secondary Outcomes ◽  
Plgf Ratio

Objectives The study aim is to evaluate the effect of pravastatin to prevent preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women at a high risk of developing preeclampsia and the maternal and perinatal outcomes and the sFlt1/PLGF ratio in the Surabaya cohort of the INOVASIA trial. Setting This study involved 2 academic hospital (a tertiary and secondary center) in Surabaya, Indonesia. Participants Pregnant women at a high risk of developing PE were recruited and randomized into an intervention group (40) and a control group (40). The inclusion criteria consisted of pregnant women with positive clinical risk factor and abnormal uterine artery doppler examination at 10-20 weeks gestational age. Inteventions The control group received low dose aspirin (80 mg/day) and calcium (1 g/day), while the intervention group received additional pravastatin (20 mg twice daily) starting from 14-20 weeks gestation until delivery. Research blood samples were collected before the first dose of pravastatin, and just before delivery. Primary and Secondary Outcomes The primary outcome was the rate of maternal preeclampsia, secondary outcomes included maternal-perinatal outcomes and sFlt-1, PLGF, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and sEng levels. Results The rate of preeclampsia was (non-significantly) lower in the pravastatin group compared with the control group (17.5% vs 35%). The pravastatin group also had a (non-significant) lower rate of severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, acute kidney injury and severe hypertension. The rate of (iatrogenic) preterm delivery was significantly lower (p 0.048) in the pravastatin group (n=4) compared with the controls (n=12). Neonates in the pravastatin group had significantly higher birthweights, higher Apgar scores, and lower composite neonatal morbidity and NICU admission rates. All biomarkers show a significant deterioration in the control group compared with non-significant changes in the pravastatin group. Conclusions Pravastatin holds promise in the secondary prevention of preeclampsia and placenta-mediated adverse perinatal outcomes by improving the anti-angiogenic/pro-angiogenic imbalance. Trial Registration Clinical Trial Gov (ID: NCT03648970)

Changing University Students’ Alcohol Culture with a web-based intervention: Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Greve ◽  
Rune Vammen Lesner ◽  
Stefan Bastholm Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
University Students ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Personal Benefit ◽  
Drinking Culture ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND In most Western countries, excessive alcohol intake among university students is a cause of concern. The majority of students view drinking as a cornerstone of university life, and many find it difficult to go against the dominant drinking culture. While digital health interventions have been shown to reduce drinking among university students, no intervention has been aimed at changing the overall university drinking culture. This intervention provided the students with tools that helped them make pre-commitment strategies and change their views on the social norms that prevent excessive alcohol intake. OBJECTIVE Our objective is to evaluate the impact of an intervention aimed at reducing the excessive drinking culture among Danish university students. As a secondary outcome, we measured the impact of the intervention on two individual motivational factors for participating in the drinking culture at the university: alcohol consumption as both a personal benefit and a facilitator of socialization. METHODS To evaluate the impact of the intervention, we conducted a cluster randomized controlled experiment among university students at Aarhus University. The students were stratified by gender and self-reported binge drinking. Each student was assigned to either a control or an intervention group. A baseline questionnaire was sent to the participants when school started in September 2019, and a follow-up questionnaire was sent out two months later. The primary outcomes were measured with the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (questions 1-3). To examine the mechanisms underlying the effect, we analyzed two motivational factors for participating in the drinking culture at the university: alcohol consumption as both and a personal benefit and a facilitator of socialization. RESULTS In total 961 students signed up, and 509 of them completed the follow-up questionnaire. Compared to the students in the control group, the students in the intervention group had a 15.8% (P<.001) reduction on their monthly level of alcohol intake two months after the intervention. The result is driven by a large effect on male and first-year students. The intervention had no effect on binge drinking, alcohol addiction, or severely harmful alcohol consumption. Our results also showed that while the students in the intervention group found it less difficult to say “no” to drinking there were no difference in the assessment of being part of the student environment between the students in the intervention and control Group. CONCLUSIONS The intervention had a significant and reducing impact on the students’ monthly alcohol intake. That the effect of the intervention was largest among the young and first-year students, who will be the responsible for the drinking culture at the University in the coming years, suggest that small nudging-based interventions can potentially have significant long-term beneficial effects. CLINICALTRIAL American Economic Association’s registry for randomized trials with RCT ID: AEARCTR-0004703. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/4703.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Web-Based Drinking Diary Program (SNAPPY-DOC Program) for Problem Drinkers in Multi Workplace Settings (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Sunami ◽  
Ryuhei So ◽  
Hironobu Ishii ◽  
Eiji Sadashima ◽  
Takefumi Ueno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Problem Drinkers ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
The Past ◽  
Audit Score ◽  
The Web

BACKGROUND In recent years, web-based interventions for problem drinkers have been developed, and they appear to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption in some studies. However, most of the subjects included in the studies were students or those who were recruited through web advertisements, and the dropout rates were high. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a web-based brief intervention (BI) program to record daily drinking among problem drinkers in a workplace setting. METHODS A two-armed, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted at six workplaces in Japan. A one-off 30-minute face-to-face lecture was organized at each workplace, and the study was explained. The audience who wished to participate were asked to provide their written consent immediately after the one-off lecture. Among those who wished to participate, problem drinkers with an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of eight or higher were randomly assigned into two groups. The participants allocated to the intervention group recorded their daily alcohol consumption for four weeks using SNAPPY-DOC, while those allocated to the control group received no intervention. Outcome measures included the amount of alcohol consumption in past seven days using the Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) method in SNAPPY-DOC at baseline (Week 0), 8th week (Week 8), and 12th week (Week 12) and written AUDIT score at baseline (Week 0) and 12th week (Week 12). If there was no login to the program at baseline (Week 0), 8th week (Week 8), and 12th week (Week 12), the researcher sent a reminder email to the participant one week later requesting a record. If there was still no response, a further week later, the researcher contacted the participants through the occupational health professionals or other personnel in their respective workplaces to request a record. RESULTS Hundred participants were assigned to either the intervention group (n=50) or the control group (n=50). All the participants logged into the program, and no participants dropped out of the follow-up. The results of two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed a statistically significant interaction between the Group and the Week factors in the two primary outcomes (number of alcohol-free days in the past seven days, total drinks in the past seven days in standard units) and secondary outcomes (AUDIT score) (P=.04, .02, and .03, respectively). The intervention group had reduced alcohol consumption from 329 g to 246 g per week on average at the 12-week evaluation (P<.001), while the control group had reduced from 294 g to 276 g per week on average (P=.83). CONCLUSIONS The web-based BI program for problem drinkers (SNAPPY-DOC program) was considered to be low-cost, effective, and acceptable for implementation in actual workplace settings. CLINICALTRIAL University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000037698; https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000042703

scholarly journals Smartphone Apps Targeting Hazardous Drinking Patterns among University Students Show Differential Subgroup Effects over 20 Weeks: Results from a Randomized, Controlled Trial

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne H. Berman ◽  
Claes Andersson ◽  
Mikael Gajecki ◽  
Ingvar Rosendahl ◽  
Kristina Sinadinovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Drinking Patterns ◽  
Smartphone Apps ◽  
Excessive Drinking ◽  
Positive Effects

Overconsumption of alcohol, from hazardous to excessive, heavy, and harmful levels, is common among university students. Consenting Swedish students were assigned to one of two smartphone apps offering feedback on estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC; Promillekoll/PartyPlanner) or assessment only (n = 2166; 1:1:1 ratio). App participants with excessive drinking according to public health criteria (>9/>14 drinks/week for women/men, respectively) at a 7 week follow-up were additionally assigned to the skills-based TeleCoach app or waitlist (n = 186; 1:1 ratio). All participants were followed at 14 and 20 weeks. At 7 weeks, Promillekoll users showed higher risk of excessive drinking (odds ratio (OR) = 1.83; p ≤ 0.01; n = 1558). Students in eBAC app groups with only hazardous use showed fewer binge drinking occasions at 14 weeks and lower eBAC levels up to 20 weeks compared to controls (n = 1157). Also, more highly motivated participants at baseline in both eBAC app groups drank less compared to controls at 7 and 20 weeks. Hidden Markov model analysis revealed a frequent-heavy drinking group (n = 146; 4.6 days/week, SD = 1.4), where those with access to TeleCoach had fewer drinking days compared to assessment-only controls (p < 0.001). eBAC apps showed positive effects up to 20 weeks, particularly for motivated students, and a skills-based app can reduce consumption for those with frequent-heavy drinking patterns.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document