Examining the added value of harm reduction strategies to emailed boosters to extend the effects of online interventions for college drinkers

Correlates of college student use of protective behavioral strategies when drinking alcohol

Objective: The present study identified student characteristics associated with using protective behavioral strategies (PBS) to reduce harms when consuming alcohol. Participants: 224 college students who drink alcohol (66.5% female, 89.7% White non-Hispanic, Mage = 21.04) completed an anonymous study survey. Methods: Participants reported use of three PBSs: serious harm reduction; stopping or limiting drinking; and manner of drinking. They also reported sensation seeking, romantic involvement, parent-student alcohol communication, and attitudes toward alcohol in college life. Results: Attitudes toward alcohol in college life, Greek life participation, and sensation seeking were the variables most consistently associated with PBS use. Perceiving alcohol as an important part of college and sensation seeking were associated with less PBS use, but Greek life participation was associated with greater PBS use. Conclusions: Specific resources may be needed to encourage PBS use among high sensation seeking students and those who believe alcohol is a part of college life.

Data Quality and Study Compliance Among College Students Across 2 Recruitment Sources: Two Study Investigation

BACKGROUND

Models of satisficing suggest that study participants may not fully process survey items and provide accurate responses when survey burden is higher and when participant motivation is lower. Participants who do not fully process survey instructions can reduce a study's power and hinder generalizability. Common concerns among researchers using self-report measures are data quality and participant compliance. Similarly, attrition can hurt the power and generalizability of a study.

OBJECTIVE

Given that college students comprise most samples in psychological studies, especially examinations of student issues and psychological health, it is critical to understand how college student recruitment sources impact data quality (operationalized as attention check items with directive instructions and correct answers) and retention (operationalized as the completion of follow-up surveys over time). This examination aimed to examine the following: whether data quality varies across recruitment sources, whether study retention varies across recruitment sources, the impact of data quality on study variable associations, the impact of data quality on measures of internal consistency, and whether the demographic qualities of participants significantly vary across those who failed attention checks versus those who did not.

METHODS

This examination was a follow-up analysis of 2 previously published studies to explore data quality and study compliance. Study 1 was a cross-sectional, web-based survey examining college stressors and psychological health (282/407, 69.3% female; 230/407, 56.5% White, 113/407, 27.8% Black; mean age 22.65, SD 6.73 years). Study 2 was a longitudinal college drinking intervention trial with an in-person baseline session and 2 web-based follow-up surveys (378/528, 71.6% female; 213/528, 40.3% White, 277/528, 52.5% Black; mean age 19.85, SD 1.65 years). Attention checks were included in both studies to assess data quality. Participants for both studies were recruited from a psychology participation pool (a pull-in method; for course credit) and the general student body (a push-out method; for monetary payment or raffle entry).

RESULTS

A greater proportion of participants recruited through the psychology pool failed attention checks in both studies, suggesting poorer data quality. The psychology pool was also associated with lower retention rates over time. After screening out those who failed attention checks, some correlations among the study variables were stronger, some were weaker, and some were fairly similar, potentially suggesting bias introduced by including these participants. Differences among the indicators of internal consistency for the study measures were negligible. Finally, attention check failure was not significantly associated with most demographic characteristics but varied across some racial identities. This suggests that filtering out data from participants who failed attention checks may not limit sample diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

Investigators conducting college student research should carefully consider recruitment and include attention checks or other means of detecting poor quality data. Recommendations for researchers are discussed.

Intervenciones para reducir el consumo de alcohol en jóvenes universitarios

Introducción: el consumo nocivo y excesivo de alcohol en los jóvenes ha sido reconocido como un comportamiento de riesgo significativo, por tanto, reducir el consumo y los problemas asociados es una prioridad entre los investigadores, educadores y profesionales de la salud que trabajan con esta población. Objetivo: examinar la evidencia actual sobre las intervenciones para reducir el consumo de alcohol de jóvenes universitarios. Método: se utilizó la metodología propuesta por Toronto y Remington. Para la evaluación y selección de los artículos cuantitativos se empleó el Instrumento de Criterios de Elegibilidad para la Selección de los Artículos de Investigación (ICrESAI) y para la evaluación de los ensayos clínicos aleatorizados se empleó la lista de verificación Estándares Consolidados de Informes de Ensayos (Consort). Resultados: se encontraron trece artículos, diez de ellos ensayos clínicos aleatorizados, dos cuantitativos longitudinales y un ensayo factorial. Conclusión: se encontró una gran variedad de diseños y propuestas de intervención, dentro de las cuales se demostró que las intervenciones breves entregadas de manera digital, tanto en la web, como en teléfonos inteligentes, son efectivas para reducir el consumo de riesgo de alcohol entre los jóvenes.

Examining Emailed Feedback as Boosters After a College Drinking Intervention Among Fraternities and Sororities: Rationale and Protocol for a Remote Controlled Trial (Project Greek)

Background

College students involved in Greek life (ie, members of fraternities and sororities) tend to engage in more high-risk alcohol use and experience more negative consequences than those not involved in Greek life. Web-based alcohol interventions, such as Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO, have been successful in reducing alcohol use and consequences among the general college student population, but interventions targeting alcohol reduction among those involved in Greek life have had limited success. Booster emails including personalized feedback regarding descriptive norms and protective behavioral strategies have shown potential in increasing the effectiveness of web-based interventions among college drinkers. Studies are needed to determine the efficacy of these boosters among those involved in Greek life.

Objective

The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of booster emails sent to Greek life students who complete Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO. Specifically, we expect that participants who receive the booster emails will reduce their alcohol consumption and related problems (primary aim 1), reduce perceived peer drinking, and increase the number of protective behavioral strategies they use over time (primary aim 2) relative to those who do not receive boosters. Contingent upon finding the emailed booster efficacious and sufficient enrollment of members from each organization, an exploratory aim is to examine social mechanisms of change (ie, through selection vs socialization).

Methods

This study is a remote, controlled intervention trial following participants for up to 6 months. Participants must be aged at least 18 years, undergraduate students, and members of a participating fraternity or sorority. Eligible participants complete a web-based baseline survey to assess their alcohol consumption behaviors and beliefs, including norms and protective behavioral strategies, and information about their social networks. After completing the baseline survey, they participate in the web-based intervention. Follow-up surveys are sent 1, 3, and 6 months after the intervention. Those in the booster condition also receive emails containing personalized feedback at 2 weeks and 14 weeks after the intervention. Latent growth models and R-Simulation Investigation for Empirical Network Analysis will be used to analyze the data.

Results

As of September 2022, we have enrolled 18 participants from 2 fraternities and 2 sororities, and they have completed the baseline survey. Overall, 72% (13/18) of participants have completed the 1-month follow-up. Enrollment will continue through December 2022.

Conclusions

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of personalized feedback booster emails sent after an alcohol intervention among members of college Greek life. A secondary, exploratory aim is to provide information about social mechanisms of change (if possible). The current methodology targets whole network recruitment, with chapter presidents serving as gatekeepers and facilitators. Unique challenges of recruiting whole networks and working with campus administrators are discussed.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05107284; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05107284

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/42535