Interactive Technology for Media Literacy Drug Prevention in Community Groups

This Phase II STTR will evaluate an interactive, self-paced, e-learning media literacy intervention, REAL media, to prevent youth substance use among youth in the 4-H organization. Participating 4-H clubs will be randomly assigned to use the curriculum or continue current practices with the option for delivery at the end of the study. 4-H members (ages 13-15) will complete a pretest, immediate posttest and follow-up posttests at 3 and 9 months to assess effects.

REAL media is an interactive, self-paced, e-learning media literacy curriculum that prevents adolescent substance use among 13-15-year-old teens. The program consists of 5 levels. Levels 1 to 4 are 15-25 minutes; level 5 allots time for message production done offline. Activities lead students to engage in critique and analysis of arguments present/absent from pro-ATOD and other popular product messages and to begin the process of refuting and counter-arguing these messages. These skills are reinforced in level 5 using an active involvement strategy in which youth plan and produce anti-ATOD messages. Users first plan their message via an online worksheet, which requires engagement with and application of media literacy concepts rather than focus exclusively on technology and/or production features. Next, participants design their posters/videos and upload their messages to a social media site as part of a contest, where they recruit peers and family to like or comment on their message.

Factorial design in which participants are randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The control is a delayed intervention condition, receiving the intervention after the treatment condition is completed.

Participants in this group will participate in 4-H programming as usual. They will have the opportunity to use the REAL media curriculum at the conclusion of the study.

REAL media is a 5-level, interactive, self-paced, e-learning media literacy curriculum to prevent youth substance use.

Self reported likelihood of using alcohol, cigarettes, chewing tobacco (or snuff, dip, snus, or dissolvable tobacco products), e-cigarettes, and marijuana in the following scenarios: at a party, while hanging out with friends, and while by yourself. Response options include Definitely no, No, Yes, and Definitely Yes.

Self reported likelihood of using alcohol, cigarettes, chewing tobacco (or snuff, dip, snus, or dissolvable tobacco products), e-cigarettes, and marijuana in the following scenarios: at a party, while hanging out with friends, and while by yourself. Response options include Definitely no, No, Yes, and Definitely Yes.

Self reported lifetime use of (e.g., whether you ever tried) alcohol, cigarettes, chewing tobacco (or snuff, dip, snus, or dissolvable tobacco products), e-cigarettes, and marijuana. Response options include Yes and No.

Self reported lifetime use of (e.g., whether you ever tried) alcohol, cigarettes, chewing tobacco (or snuff, dip, snus, or dissolvable tobacco products), e-cigarettes, and marijuana. Response options include Yes and No.

Self reported frequency of use of alcohol, cigarettes, chewing tobacco (or snuff, dip, snus, or dissolvable tobacco products), e-cigarettes, and marijuana. Response options include range from 0 days to 30+ days.

Self reported frequency of use of alcohol, cigarettes, chewing tobacco (or snuff, dip, snus, or dissolvable tobacco products), e-cigarettes, and marijuana. Response options include range from 0 days to 30+ days.

Inclusion Criteria: 4-H members and leaders must belong to a participating club in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, West Virginia, or Maryland members must be between the ages of 13-15 club leaders must be at least 21 years of age written parental consent and assent from members written consent from club leaders (online assent) Exclusion Criteria: the inability to speak or read American English access to and the ability to use a computer, or navigate the Internet for youth, lack of parental consent/youth assent/leader consent

Greene K, Choi HJ, Glenn SD, Ray AE, Hecht ML. The Role of Engagement in Effective, Digital Prevention Interventions: the Function of Engagement in the REAL Media Substance Use Prevention Curriculum. Prev Sci. 2021 Feb;22(2):247-258. doi: 10.1007/s11121-020-01181-9. Epub 2020 Nov 3.

Greene K, Ray AE, Choi HJ, Glenn SD, Lyons RE, Hecht ML. Short term effects of the REAL media e-learning media literacy substance prevention curriculum: An RCT of adolescents disseminated through a community organization. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Sep 1;214:108170. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108170. Epub 2020 Jul 10.