Testing Alcohol Interventions Among Job-seekers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of the randomized controlled trial was to test two behavioral interventions among job-seekers with risky drinking. The interventions differed in their theoretical background: Intervention A was tailored to the stage of change, and Intervention B was non-stage-tailored. Over 12 months, job-seekers were pro-actively screened for risky drinking at three job-agencies. Job-seekers with risky drinking were asked to participate in the study. All three groups were assessed at baseline, and 3, 6 and 15 months later. The baseline assessment was self-administered using handheld computers. The follow-up assessments by interviews on the phone, primarily. Both intervention groups received individualized computer generated feedback letters at baseline and 3 months later.

Official Title
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Testing Stage Tailored vs. Non-stage Tailored Interventions Among Job-seekers With Risky Drinking

Conditions
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Hazardous Drinking

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Stage-tailored intervention
* Behavioral: Non-stage-tailored Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Job-seekers with risky drinking (AUDIT-C ≥ 4/5 [women/men] and AUDIT < 20) Exclusion Criteria: Job-seekers already asked to participate during an earlier visit at the job agency Job-seekers not intending to talk to a job-agent/ without waiting time Job-seekers physically or mentally not capable of participating in the study Job-seekers with insufficient language/ reading skills Job-seekers with more severe alcohol problems (AUDIT ≥ 20) Job-seekers employed at the department conducting the study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 64 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Stage-tailored<br>At baseline and three months later | Behavioral: Stage-tailored intervention<br>* Based on the Trans-Theoretical Model of intentional behavior change (TTM). According to their stage of change, participants received two computer generated feedback letters on their risky drinking, stage of change, processes of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance. The first letter included normative feedback (interpersonal comparison with other individuals in the same stage), and was sent out by mail after baseline. The second letter included normative and ipsative feedback (intrapersonal comparisons: baseline vs. 3 months later), and was sent out by mail three months later.<br>|
| Experimental: Non-stage-tailored<br>At baseline and three months later | Behavioral: Non-stage-tailored Intervention<br>* Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Participants received two computer generated feedback letters on their risky drinking, beliefs (behavioral, normative, control), attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, intention, and they were asked to fill in a where-when-how to change plan. The first letter included normative feedback (interpersonal comparison with other women/ men), and was sent out by mail after baseline. The second letter included normative and ipsative feedback, and was sent out by mail three months later.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control group<br>Assessment only | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Risky drinking | Determined by using average alcohol consumption per day, heavy occasional drinking, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumtion (AUDIT-C) score | 6 and 15 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Motivation to reduce drinking | Assessed by the Readiness to Change Questionnaire | 6 and 15 months | 
| Attempts to reduce drinking |  | 6 and 15 months | 
| Knowledge about drinking limits |  | 6 and 15 months | 
| Alcohol related problems |  | 6 and 15 months | 
| Self-rated health |  | 6 and months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Risky drinking, Brief intervention, Computer-generated feedback, Stage-tailored, Non-stage-tailored