Lukas Christian Aljoscha, Blechert Jens, Berking Matthias
Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Naegelsbachstr 25a, 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Str. 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2024 Feb 20;10(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s40814-023-01420-0.
Problematic drinking is common among college students and associated with various somatic and mental health problems. Given significant evidence for the efficacy of smartphone-based interventions and the frequent use of smartphones among college students, it can be assumed that such interventions have great potential to facilitate access to evidence-based interventions for students suffering from problematic drinking. Thus, we developed a brief intervention that combined a counseling session with an app that utilizes approach-avoidance modification training to reduce alcohol consumption.
To test the feasibility and explore the potential efficacy of the intervention, we conducted a before-after single-arm study with N = 11 participants reportedly engaging in problematic drinking, who were instructed to practice with the app for 14 days. Feasibility was assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS). Outcomes included the reduction of self-reported problematic drinking behavior, dysfunctional attitudes about alcohol, and craving, as well as implicit associations between alcohol and self during the training period. Additionally, self-reported problematic drinking behavior was assessed at a 4-week follow-up.
On average, participants rated app usability on the SUS (possible range: 0 to 100) with M = 84.32 (SD = 6.53). With regard to efficacy, participants reported a significant reduction of problematic drinking behavior (d = 0.91) which was sustained at follow-up (d = 1.07). Additionally, participants reported a significant reduction of dysfunctional attitudes about alcohol (d = 1.48). Results revealed no significant changes in craving nor in implicit associations regarding alcohol.
Findings from this feasibility study provide preliminary evidence that smartphone-based interventions might help reduce problematic drinking in college students. Further research needs to replicate these findings with larger samples in randomized controlled trials.
DRKS00014675 (retrospectively registered).
问题饮酒在大学生中很常见，且与各种身心健康问题相关。鉴于有大量证据表明基于智能手机的干预措施有效，且大学生经常使用智能手机，因此可以认为此类干预措施有很大潜力，能为有问题饮酒问题的学生提供循证干预。因此，我们开发了一种简短干预措施，将咨询课程与一款应用程序相结合，该应用程序利用趋避修正训练来减少酒精消费。
为了测试该干预措施的可行性并探索其潜在效果，我们对11名据报告有问题饮酒行为的参与者进行了一项前后单臂研究，指导他们使用该应用程序练习14天。使用系统可用性量表（SUS）评估可行性。结果包括自我报告的问题饮酒行为减少、对酒精的功能失调态度和渴望减少，以及训练期间酒精与自我之间的内隐联想。此外，在4周随访时评估自我报告的问题饮酒行为。
参与者对该应用程序在SUS上的可用性评分平均为M = 84.32（标准差 = 6.53）（可能范围：0至100）。在效果方面，参与者报告问题饮酒行为显著减少（d = 0.91），随访时仍保持（d = 1.07）。此外，参与者报告对酒精的功能失调态度显著减少（d = 1.48）。结果显示渴望以及与酒精相关的内隐联想没有显著变化。
这项可行性研究的结果提供了初步证据，表明基于智能手机的干预措施可能有助于减少大学生的问题饮酒。进一步的研究需要在随机对照试验中用更大的样本复制这些结果。
DRKS00014675（回顾性注册）
