Readiness-to-change as a moderator of a web-based brief intervention for marijuana among students identified by health center screening

Abstract

Introduction Electronic screening and brief intervention has been identified as a low cost strategy to address marijuana use among students, however there is little known about who may be most responsive to this intervention approach. This study examined whether readiness-to-change moderated the influence of a web-based intervention on frequency of use at 3-month outcomes. Methods One-hundred twenty-three students who smoked marijuana at least monthly were identified by screening in a student health center. Baseline and 3-month outcome assessments were conducted on-line. Participants were randomly assigned to either eCHECKUP TO GO-marijuana or a control condition after completing marijuana measures and the Readiness-to-Change Questionnaire (RTCQ). Negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to examine whether the effect of the intervention on marijuana use at 3-month outcomes was moderated by the Action and Problem Recognition dimensions of the RTCQ, adjusting for baseline use. Results Analyses showed a significant Intervention x Action interaction. Probing of interaction effects showed that among those with high scores on the Action scale participants in the intervention group reported significantly fewer days of use than those in the control condition at follow-up (IRR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.94, 2.08). The Problem Recognition dimension did not moderate the influence of the intervention on outcomes. Conclusion These results suggest that this eSBI may bolster change efforts among students who have begun taking steps toward changing their marijuana use.

A randomized controlled trial on a smartphone self-help application (Be Good to Yourself) to reduce depressive symptoms

“…Willingness to change problematic behaviour was found to be a moderator in a study of transdiagnostic face-to-face treatment (Boswell et al, 2012) as well as in an uncontrolled study of face-to-face treatment for participants with somatoform disorders (Heider et al, 2017). Additionally, the "action"-subscale of willingness to change was found to moderate the effect of an online intervention addressing marijuana use among students (Palfai et al, 2016).…”

Readiness to change and therapy outcomes of an innovative psychotherapy program for surgical patients: results from a randomized controlled trial

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Predictors of treatment response in a web-based intervention for cannabis users

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