Personalized Booster Feedback After Alcohol Health Education

Heavy episodic alcohol use within the college student population is widespread, creating
problems for student drinkers, their peers, and their institutions. Negative consequences
from frequent or heavy alcohol use can be mild (e.g., hangovers, missed classes), moderate
(e.g., poor grades, damaged relationships), or severe (e.g., assault, even death). Given the
potentially dangerous consequences, reducing alcohol use and associated problems is a major
health priority. Although online interventions targeting college student drinking reduce
alcohol consumption and associated problems, they are not as effective as in-person
interventions. The benefits of online interventions include cost-effectiveness and ease of
administration, plus they offer privacy, reduce stigma, and may reach individuals who would
otherwise not receive treatment.

Although post-intervention boosters have been shown to be effective for individuals seeking
treatment for alcohol-related injuries in emergency medical settings, limited studies have
investigated the efficacy of boosters for college students who have received alcohol
interventions. In a recently completed randomized, controlled trial, an emailed booster with
personalized feedback improved the efficacy of a popular online intervention, while at the
same time maintaining low cost and easy dissemination (Braitman & Henson, 2016). Although
promising, the booster incorporated in the study needs further empirical refinement.

The current project seeks to build on past progress reducing the gap between online and more
efficacious in-person interventions. The current study further develops and refines the
booster to identify optimal administration for maximum efficacy. In particular, one aspect
missing from online interventions is a connection with a person invested in improving the
student's outcomes. The current study aims to generate a personal connection for online
interventions through a follow-up booster emailed by a member of the research staff. Outcomes
will be compared for participants who receive a follow-up booster with similar content, but
is clearly automatically generated and not from any particular individual.

There are 3 conditions: all participants receive the initial online intervention targeting
college drinking. Condition 1 (the control group) receives an email with a reminder to
complete the follow-up surveys, but no feedback (i.e., no booster). Condition 2 receives an
emailed booster with normative feedback plus protective strategies feedback, clearly
automatically generated. Condition 3 receives an emailed booster with normative feedback plus
protective strategies feedback, from a member of the research staff. The booster content
alone (automatically generated) may be efficacious, or the additional personal connection may
enhance the effect.

Thus, the aim of the current study is to examine if personal contact enhances the tailored
feedback received via booster email.

Hypothesis 1a: Both groups receiving emailed feedback will reduce drinking and
alcohol-related problems as compared to the intervention-only control condition.

Hypothesis 1b: Reductions in drinking and problems will be stronger for those who receive
emails from an individual rather than automatically generated.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Current college students at the sponsor institution at the time of enrollment

- Between the ages of 18 and 24

- Consumed at least standard drink of alcohol in the past 2 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

- Under age of 18

- Over age of 24

- Not a college student

- Did not drink alcohol in the past 2 weeks