BACKGROUND/AIMS: Most problematic alcohol users never seek professional help to reduce their use, and Web-based interventions might fulfill users' unmet needs for professional support. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial compared two open Web-based interventions, one extended self-help program and one brief screening and feedback intervention, with an assessment-only control group. Participants were 633 Internet help seekers with at least hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT ≥6 for women and ≥8 for men). RESULTS: All groups reduced their alcohol use at 3-month follow-up (p < 0.001), remaining stable at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (n.s.) according to AUDIT-C and AUDIT scores (intention-to-treat, ITT, analysis). Per protocol (PP) analysis, including only participants who accessed the interventions and also reported accessing additional outside interventions during the trial, showed that about 75% of extended self-help participants moved from probable dependence, harmful or hazardous use to lower alcohol use levels at 3- and 6- and 12-month follow-ups, compared to about 40-60% of brief intervention users and controls who accessed extra help (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ITT analysis suggested parity over time for all interventions, including assessment only, in reducing problematic alcohol use. In contrast, PP analysis suggested that cognitive-behavioral extended self-help in combination with other interventions was more effective in changing alcohol use than brief intervention or assessment only.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Most problematic alcohol users never seek professional help to reduce their use, and Web-based interventions might fulfill users' unmet needs for professional support. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial compared two open Web-based interventions, one extended self-help program and one brief screening and feedback intervention, with an assessment-only control group. Participants were 633 Internet help seekers with at least hazardous alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, AUDIT ≥6 for women and ≥8 for men). RESULTS: All groups reduced their alcohol use at 3-month follow-up (p < 0.001), remaining stable at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (n.s.) according to AUDIT-C and AUDIT scores (intention-to-treat, ITT, analysis). Per protocol (PP) analysis, including only participants who accessed the interventions and also reported accessing additional outside interventions during the trial, showed that about 75% of extended self-help participants moved from probable dependence, harmful or hazardous use to lower alcohol use levels at 3- and 6- and 12-month follow-ups, compared to about 40-60% of brief intervention users and controls who accessed extra help (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ITT analysis suggested parity over time for all interventions, including assessment only, in reducing problematic alcohol use. In contrast, PP analysis suggested that cognitive-behavioral extended self-help in combination with other interventions was more effective in changing alcohol use than brief intervention or assessment only.
Authors: Gabrielle Humphreys; Rebecca Evans; Harriet Makin; Richard Cooke; Andrew Jones Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2021-02-09 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Eileen Fs Kaner; Fiona R Beyer; Claire Garnett; David Crane; Jamie Brown; Colin Muirhead; James Redmore; Amy O'Donnell; James J Newham; Frank de Vocht; Matthew Hickman; Heather Brown; Gregory Maniatopoulos; Susan Michie Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-09-25
Authors: John A Cunningham; Gillian W Shorter; Michelle Murphy; Vladyslav Kushnir; Jürgen Rehm; Christian S Hendershot Journal: Int J Behav Med Date: 2017-10
Authors: Christopher Sundström; Mikael Gajecki; Magnus Johansson; Matthijs Blankers; Kristina Sinadinovic; Erik Stenlund-Gens; Anne H Berman Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-07-06 Impact factor: 3.240