Efficacy of web-based personalized normative feedback: A two-year randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Objective Web-based brief alcohol interventions have the potential to reach a large number of individuals at low cost; however, few controlled evaluations have been conducted to date. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of gender-specific versus gender-nonspecific personalized normative feedback (PNF) with single versus biannual administration in a 2-year randomized controlled trial targeting a large sample of heavy-drinking college students. Method Participants included 818 freshmen (57.6% women; 42% non-Caucasian) who reported 1 or more heavy-drinking episodes in the previous month at baseline. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2 (gender-specific vs. gender-nonspecific PNF) × 2 (single vs. biannual administration of PNF) + 1 (attention control) design. Assessments occurred every 6 months for a 2-year period. Results Results from hierarchical generalized linear models provided modest effects on weekly drinking and alcohol-related problems but not on heavy episodic drinking. Relative to control, gender-specific biannual PNF was associated with reductions over time in weekly drinking (d = −0.16, 95% CI [−0.02, −0.31]), and this effect was partially mediated by changes in perceived norms. For women, but not men, gender-specific biannual PNF was associated with reductions over time in alcohol-related problems relative to control (d =−0.29, 95% CI [−0.15,−0.58]). Few other effects were evident. Conclusions The present research provides modest support for the use of biannually administered web-based gender-specific PNF as an alternative to more costly indicated prevention strategies.

Electronic Interventions for Alcohol Misuse and Alcohol Use Disorders

“…In 5 trials rated as low to moderate risk of bias in students (37,48,49,52), e-interventions resulted in no statistically significant reduction in binge drinking (MD, −0.1 episodes [CI, −0.6 to 0.4]) at 6-month follow-up. Effect sizes had moderate heterogeneity (Q = 8.8; P = 0.066; I 2 = 55%); 1 trial rated as low risk of bias that studied human support reported significant effects (44).…”

Coping Motives Moderate Efficacy of Personalized Normative Feedback Among Heavy Drinking U.S. College Students

“…PNF interventions have been shown to reduce drinking from 1 month (Dimeff & McNeely, 2000;Doumas et al, 2009) to 2 years (Neighbors et al, 2010) after baseline. The success of PNF may be a function of multiple underlying mechanisms; however, correction of normative misperceptions has been emphasized as the primary mediating mechanism underlying PNF and other social norms-based alcohol interventions (e.g., Burchell et al, 2013;Lewis & Neighbors, 2006).…”

Normative Perceptions of Cannabis Use Among European University Students: Associations of Perceived Peer Use and Peer Attitudes With Personal Use and Attitudes

“…Interventions based on this approach attempt to address commonly held misperceptions of peer norms and reduce the perceived social pressure to engage in heavy consumption by providing feedback comparing students' perceptions of social norms at their university with actual campus norms (McAlaney et al, 2011). There is evidence that social norms-focused feedback interventions are effective in reducing student alcohol use and perceptions of peer norms (e.g., Neighbors et al, 2010). Although few social norms interventions have focused on reducing cannabis use, preliminary research has indicated the potential benefits of web-based personalized normative feedback on reducing perceived peer descriptive and injunctive cannabis use norms (Elliott & Carey, 2012;Lee et al, 2010).…”