Effects of the social norms intervention
The GOOD Life on
norm perceptions, binge drinking and alcohol-related harms: A cluster-randomised controlled trial.
Prev Med Rep 2018;
12:304-311. [PMID:
30406009 PMCID:
PMC6218643 DOI:
10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate if the school-based social norms intervention The GOOD Life was effective in reducing misperceptions, heavy alcohol use and alcohol-related harms among Danish pupils aged 13–17 years.
In total 38 schools were included in a cluster-randomised controlled trial and allocated to either intervention (n = 641) or control group (n = 714) during 2015/2016. Both groups completed an online survey before the intervention and 3 months after baseline. The GOOD Life intervention provided normative feedback tailored for each school-grade using three communication channels: classroom sessions, posters and web application. Outcome measures were overestimation of peers' lifetime binge drinking, binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion) and alcohol-related harms. Intervention effects at follow-up were examined using multilevel logistic regression models.
Pupils in the intervention group were less likely to overestimate peers' lifetime binge drinking compared to those in the control group (OR: 0.52, 95%CI: 0.33–0.83) and were less likely to report two or more alcohol-related harms (OR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.37–0.93). Overall, no significant effect of the intervention was found on binge drinking. However, among pupils stating it would be ok, if they drank more (n = 296), a preventive effect was found on binge drinking four or more times during the last 30 days (OR: 0.37, 95%CI: 0.15–0.95). Additionally, the intervention effect on overestimation was higher among pupils who reported binge drinking at baseline.
Receiving the intervention had a positive effect on norm perceptions and alcohol-related harms. We also found that the intervention effect differed by baseline status of alcohol use.
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