Face-to-face versus computer-delivered alcohol interventions for college drinkers: A meta-analytic review, 1998 to 2010

Abstract

Alcohol misuse occurs commonly on college campuses, necessitating prevention programs to help college drinkers reduce consumption and minimize harmful consequences. Computer-delivered interventions (CDIs) have been widely used due to their low cost and ease of dissemination but whether CDIs are efficacious and whether they produce benefits equivalent to face-to-face interventions (FTFIs) remain unclear. Therefore, we identified controlled trials of both CDIs and FTFIs and used meta-analysis (a) to determine the relative efficacy of these two approaches and (b) to test predictors of intervention efficacy. We included studies examining FTFIs (N = 5,237; 56% female; 87% White) and CDIs (N = 32,243; 51% female; 81% White). Independent raters coded participant characteristics, design and methodological features, intervention content, and calculated weighted mean effect sizes using fixed and random-effects models. Analyses indicated that, compared to controls, FTFI participants drank less, drank less frequently, and reported fewer problems at short-term follow-up (d+s = 0.15 – 0.19); they continued to consume lower quantities at intermediate (d+ = 0.23) and long-term (d+ = 0.14) follow-ups. Compared to controls, CDI participants reported lower quantities, frequency, and peak intoxication at short-term follow-up (d+s = 0.13 – 0.29), but these effects were not maintained. Direct comparisons between FTFI and CDIs were infrequent, but these trials favored the FTFIs on both quantity and problems measures (d+s = 0.12–0.20). Moderator analyses identified participant and intervention characteristics that influence intervention efficacy. Overall, we conclude that FTFIs provide the most effective and enduring effects.

Electronic Interventions for Alcohol Misuse and Alcohol Use Disorders

“…The search strategies are shown in Appendix Table 2 (available at www.annals.org). We reviewed bibliographies of included trials and applicable systematic reviews for missed publications (14)(15)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25). To assess for publication bias, we searched ClinicalTrials.gov for trials that met our eligibility criteria (26) and found 2 trials that were completed at least 1 year before our literature search but were unpublished.…”

Investigación en intervención breve y consumo de alcohol durante la gestación: productividad e impacto

“…Las IB fueron realizadas en todos los casos a mujeres gestantes ya sea cara-cara o vía web, lo que coincide con el estado de las investigaciones actuales en IB, donde las intervenciones vía web han cobrado especial protagonismo en los últimos diez años (33,34) por ser un medio de intervención que en algunos contextos ha demostrado ser costo-efectivo y alcanzar a una gran cantidad de personas (35,36). Sin embargo debe tenerse en consideración que en el contexto latinoamericano las intervenciones vía web tienen una menor tasa de respuesta en comparación con estudios de lápiz y papel, probablemente por características socioculturales como mayor desconfianza en el uso de los medios electrónicos y preferencias de contactos interpersonales más cercanos (37).…”

Comparison of WEB and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Methods for Delivering Brief Alcohol Interventions to Hazardous-Drinking University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…They are as effective as alternative interventions offered face-to-face by a therapist when compared with controls but, in direct comparisons, face-to-face interventions have been shown to be more effective for both quantity and problem measures and in terms of long-term effects [46,47]. …”

“…Automated stand-alone computer-delivered brief alcohol interventions, regardless of delivery mode, offer small but meaningful effects in a wide range of alcohol-related measures [41,42,43,44,45,46,47]. They are as effective as alternative interventions offered face-to-face by a therapist when compared with controls but, in direct comparisons, face-to-face interventions have been shown to be more effective for both quantity and problem measures and in terms of long-term effects [46,47].…”