Alerta Alcohol. Web-based Computer-tailored Intervention for Binge-drinking Prevention in Spanish Adolescents

Alerta Alcohol. Web-based Computer-tailored Intervention for Binge-drinking Prevention in Spanish Adolescents

Alerta Alcohol. Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Tailored Web-based Computer-tailored Intervention for Selective Prevention of Binge-drinking in Spanish Adolescents.

This study consists in the the design, implementation, and evaluation of the first web-based computer tailored intervention program aimed at the prevention of binge drinking in Spanish adolescents (Alerta Alcohol). A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial is conducted to test the effectiveness of Alerta Alcohol in students aged 16 to 18 years across 16 high schools from Andalusia (southern Spain), which are randomized either to the experimental or the control condition (EC and CC).

Binge-drinking in adolescents is a highly prevalent healthcare problem that associates physical and mental health complications and community implications. The "Alerta Alcohol" program is based on the I-Change Model. Focus and Delphi groups are used to obtain further information on items included in the program. A pilot study is conducted to identify strengths and weaknesses. A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial is carried out. The schools from Andalusia are randomized either to the experimental or the control condition (EC and CC). The EC receives the Alerta Alcohol intervention, which consists of four sessions at school: baseline questionnaire and two sessions where adolescents are provided with answers related to their views to provide highly specific feedback regarding their knowledge, risk perception, self-esteem, attitude, social influence, and self-efficacy. In addition, two booster sessions are given at home to reinforce the contents. The CC just completes the baseline and the evaluation questionnaires and then they are allowed to receive the intervention as well (as a waiting list control condition). Evaluation takes place after four months. The primary endpoint is binge drinking within 30 days prior to evaluation and alcohol use in the previous week. It is expected that Alerta Alcohol reduces the prevalence of binge drinking by 10%. Follow up analyses are carried out to determine the differences in effectiveness according to the compliance of the program (quality of the implementation).

Adolescence, Alcohol Drinking, Binge Drinking, I-Change model, Web-based interventions, Computer-tailoring

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial is conducted to test the effectiveness of Alerta Alcohol in students aged 16 to 18 years. The study is performed in 16 high schools from Andalusia (southern Spain), which are randomized either to the experimental or the control condition (EC and CC). The EC receives the Alerta Alcohol intervention, which consists of four sessions at school. The adolescents are provided highly specific feedback regarding their knowledge, risk perception, self-esteem, attitude, social influence, and self-efficacy. In addition, two booster sessions are given at home to reinforce the contents of the three scenarios. The CC just completes the baseline and the evaluation questionnaires and then they are allowed to receive the intervention as well (as a waiting list control condition).

Intervention Group: The Experimental Group receives the Alerta Alcohol intervention, which consists of four sessions at school (baseline questionnaire, two sessions in three scenarios: at home, celebrations, and public places, and a final evaluation). The adolescents are provided with answers related to their views of each scenario; this information is used to provide highly specific feedback regarding their knowledge, risk perception, self-esteem, attitude, social influence (modelling, norms and social pressure), self-efficacy and action plans. In addition, two booster sessions are given at home to reinforce the contents of the three scenarios. Evaluation takes place after four months.

Control Group: The Control Group just completes the baseline and the evaluation questionnaires and then they are allowed to receive the intervention as well (as a waiting list control condition). Evaluation takes place after four months from baseline

The intervention consists of preventive messages about the benefits of not consuming alcohol, reducing the positive attitudes and encouraging the negative attitudes towards alcohol drinking and binge drinking, as well as social influence and self-efficacy, by personalized feedback. Skills and action plans are encouraged to help the student to reject binge drinking. This information is presented through different tailored messages. Moreover, four avatars (two males and two females), which can be chosen as part of the story development. This story consists of a short story about the alcohol consumption by adolescents.The stories take place in three different scenarios (at home, at celebrations and in public places).

Reducing binge-drinking (4/5 glasses or alcohol in one ocassion for a girl/boy) within 30 days prior to evaluation.

Inclusion Criteria: Students aged 16 to 18 years. Enrolled in Andalusian public high schools. Schools belonging to provincial capitals. Access to the Internet at the school and an equipped ICT room. Exclusion Criteria: Language barriers. Previous participation in prevention programs for binge drinking.

The IPD will be shared with other researchers through publications in scientific journals and congresses

The Access Criteria will be the one exposed by the scientific journals where the results of the study will be published.

Vargas-Martinez AM, Trapero-Bertran M, Mora T, Lima-Serrano M. Social, economic and family factors associated with binge drinking in Spanish adolescents. BMC Public Health. 2020 Apr 17;20(1):519. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08605-9.

Martinez-Montilla JM, Mercken L, de Vries H, Candel M, Lima-Rodriguez JS, Lima-Serrano M. A Web-Based, Computer-Tailored Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking Among Spanish Adolescents: Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Jan 24;22(1):e15438. doi: 10.2196/15438.

Vargas-Martinez AM, Trapero-Bertran M, Lima-Serrano M, Anokye N, Pokhrel S, Mora T. Measuring the effects on quality of life and alcohol consumption of a program to reduce binge drinking in Spanish adolescents. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019 Dec 1;205:107597. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107597. Epub 2019 Sep 30.

Lima-Serrano M, Martinez-Montilla JM, Lima-Rodriguez JS, Mercken L, de Vries H. Design, implementation and evaluation of a web-based computer-tailored intervention to prevent binge drinking in adolescents: study protocol. BMC Public Health. 2018 Apr 4;18(1):449. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5346-4.