Electronic communication based interventions for hazardous young drinkers: A systematic review

Abstract

Please cite this article as: O'Rourke, L., Humphris, G., Baldacchino, A., Electronic communication based interventions for hazardous young drinkers: A systematic review.Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews http://dx.doi.org/10. 1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.021 This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Out of 3298 relevant citations, 13 papers consisting of 11 studies met the inclusion criteria.Effectiveness of intervention delivery was assessed using behavioural outcomes. Eight papers delivered interventions using the Web, three implemented text messaging, one used a mobile phone app and the remaining paper used a social networking site.The ability to provide personalized electronic feedback resulted in a reduction in alcohol consumption, frequency of binge drinking, and drinking in a non-risky way. However, intervention length did not appear to have an impact on overall effectiveness.Usage of text messaging and Social Network Sites (SNS) increased accessibility and ease of engaging in an intervention that is appealing and acceptable for young adults.

Binge drinking: Health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions

“…Further, there is inconclusive evidence on the optimal dose of mobile interventions to obtain the best effects (Berman, Gajecki, Sinadinovic, & Andersson, 2016). Having said that, one previous review suggested that the length of interventions did not have an impact on effectiveness (O'Rourke, Humphris, & Baldacchino, 2016). Also, it should be noted that while there are now hundreds of commercial alcohol-related smartphone apps available on the iTunes and Google Play stores, less than 20% of apps promote alcohol reduction (Milward et al, 2016), and very few of these contain valid behavioural change techniques (Crane, Garnett, Brown, West, & Michie, 2015).…”

Using a mobile health application to reduce alcohol consumption: a mixed-methods evaluation of the drinkaware track & calculate units application

“…The ability to set own drinking goals is also highly valued [15]. Similarly, in the broader mobile health (mhealth) literature beyond apps alone, comparable conclusions are also drawn; for example, text message based interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in both decreasing intentions to consume alcohol and in actual drinking behaviour [16, 17], with this type of intervention liked by users on the basis of ease and convenience [18]. Other forms of digital intervention, including email, additionally seem to be accepted by recipients, primarily given their scope to tailor and personalise content [16], but may elicit lower levels of actual engagement compared to similar information and BCTs delivered via mobile phone [19].…”

Moderators of outcome in a technology-based intervention to prevent and reduce problem drinking among adolescents

“…In Switzerland, 17% of the population and 41% of young adults ages 20-24 years exhibit at least problematic alcohol use (Gmel, Kuendig, Notari, & Gmel, 2016), and heavy drinking remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in adolescence and early adulthood (Marmet, Rehm, Gmel, Frick, & Gmel, 2014). Technology-based alcohol interventions have been shown to be efficacious at reducing short-term risky alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in adolescents (O'Rourke, Humphris, & Baldacchino, 2016;Patton et al, 2014), but reviews also underline the unknown generalizability of current findings, since most studies have been conducted on student populations (Danielsson, Eriksson, & Allebeck, 2014;Donoghue, Patton, Phillips, Deluca, & Drummond, 2014;White et al, 2010).…”