Braitman Abby L, Shipley Jennifer L, Strowger Megan, Ayala Guzman Rachel, Whiteside Alina, Bravo Adrian J, Carey Kate B
Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States.
Union College, Schenectady, NY, United States.
JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Oct 28;11(10):e42535. doi: 10.2196/42535.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05107284; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05107284.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/42535.
参与兄弟会或姐妹会活动的大学生（即联谊会成员）往往比未参与此类活动的学生更倾向于进行高风险饮酒，且承受更多负面后果。基于网络的酒精干预措施，如“酒精自检出行版”，已成功减少了普通大学生群体中的酒精使用及相关后果，但针对参与联谊会活动学生的酒精使用减少干预措施成效有限。包含关于描述性规范和保护性行为策略的个性化反馈的强化邮件，已显示出提高网络干预措施对大学生饮酒者有效性的潜力。需要开展研究以确定这些强化措施对联谊会成员的效果。
本研究的主要目的是评估向完成“酒精自检出行版”的联谊会学生发送强化邮件的效果。具体而言，我们预计，与未收到强化邮件的参与者相比，收到强化邮件的参与者将减少酒精消费及相关问题（主要目标1），减少对同伴饮酒的认知，并随着时间推移增加他们使用的保护性行为策略的数量（主要目标2）。在发现邮件强化措施有效且每个组织有足够数量成员入组的情况下，一个探索性目标是研究变化的社会机制（即通过选择与社交化）。
本研究是一项远程对照干预试验，对参与者进行长达6个月的跟踪。参与者必须年满18岁，为本科生，且是参与研究的兄弟会或姐妹会成员。符合条件的参与者完成一项基于网络的基线调查，以评估他们的酒精消费行为和信念，包括规范和保护性行为策略，以及有关其社交网络的信息。完成基线调查后，他们参与基于网络的干预。干预后1个月、3个月和6个月发送随访调查。处于强化条件下的参与者在干预后2周和14周还会收到包含个性化反馈的邮件。将使用潜在增长模型和实证网络分析的R模拟调查来分析数据。
截至2022年9月，我们已从2个兄弟会和2个姐妹会招募了18名参与者，他们已完成基线调查。总体而言，72%（13/18）的参与者完成了1个月的随访。招募工作将持续到2022年12月。
本研究旨在检验在酒精干预后向大学联谊会成员发送的个性化反馈强化邮件的有效性。第二个探索性目标是（如有可能）提供有关变化的社会机制的信息。当前的方法针对的是整个网络招募，由分会主席担任把关人和促进者。讨论了招募整个网络以及与校园管理人员合作的独特挑战。
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05107284；https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05107284。
国际注册报告识别码（IRRID）：DERR1-10.2196/42535。
