TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficacy of a web-based intervention with and without guidance for employees with risky drinking
T2 - results of a three-arm randomized controlled trial
AU - Boß, Leif
AU - Lehr, Dirk
AU - Schaub, Michael Patrick
AU - Paz Castro, Raquel
AU - Riper, Heleen
AU - Berking, Matthias
AU - Ebert, David Daniel
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Aims: To test the efficacy of a web-based alcohol intervention with and without guidance. Design: Three parallel groups with primary end-point after 6 weeks. Setting: Open recruitment in the German working population. Participants: Adults (178 males/256 females, mean age 47 years) consuming at least 21/14 weekly standard units of alcohol (SUA) and scoring ≥ 8/6 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Intervention: Five web-based modules including personalized normative feedback, motivational interviewing, goal setting, problem-solving and emotion regulation during 5 weeks. One intervention group received an unguided self-help version (n=146) and the second received additional adherence-focused guidance by eCoaches (n=144). Controls were on a waiting list with full access to usual care (n=144). Measurements: Primary outcome was weekly consumed SUA after 6 weeks. SUA after 6 months was examined as secondary outcome, next to numbers of participants drinking within the low-risk range, and general and work-specific mental health measures. Findings: All groups showed reductions of mean weekly SUA after 6 weeks (unguided: −8.0; guided: −8.5; control: −3.2). There was no significant difference between the unguided and guided intervention (P=0.324). Participants in the combined intervention group reported significantly fewer SUA than controls [B=−4.85, 95% confidence interval (CI)=−7.02 to −2.68, P < 0.001]. The intervention groups also showed significant reductions in SUA consumption after 6 months (B=−5.72, 95% CI=−7.71 to −3.73, P < 0.001) and improvements regarding general and work-related mental health outcomes after 6 weeks and 6 months. Conclusions: A web-based alcohol intervention, administered with or without personal guidance, significantly reduced mean weekly alcohol consumption and improved mental health and work-related outcomes in the German working population.
AB - Aims: To test the efficacy of a web-based alcohol intervention with and without guidance. Design: Three parallel groups with primary end-point after 6 weeks. Setting: Open recruitment in the German working population. Participants: Adults (178 males/256 females, mean age 47 years) consuming at least 21/14 weekly standard units of alcohol (SUA) and scoring ≥ 8/6 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Intervention: Five web-based modules including personalized normative feedback, motivational interviewing, goal setting, problem-solving and emotion regulation during 5 weeks. One intervention group received an unguided self-help version (n=146) and the second received additional adherence-focused guidance by eCoaches (n=144). Controls were on a waiting list with full access to usual care (n=144). Measurements: Primary outcome was weekly consumed SUA after 6 weeks. SUA after 6 months was examined as secondary outcome, next to numbers of participants drinking within the low-risk range, and general and work-specific mental health measures. Findings: All groups showed reductions of mean weekly SUA after 6 weeks (unguided: −8.0; guided: −8.5; control: −3.2). There was no significant difference between the unguided and guided intervention (P=0.324). Participants in the combined intervention group reported significantly fewer SUA than controls [B=−4.85, 95% confidence interval (CI)=−7.02 to −2.68, P < 0.001]. The intervention groups also showed significant reductions in SUA consumption after 6 months (B=−5.72, 95% CI=−7.71 to −3.73, P < 0.001) and improvements regarding general and work-related mental health outcomes after 6 weeks and 6 months. Conclusions: A web-based alcohol intervention, administered with or without personal guidance, significantly reduced mean weekly alcohol consumption and improved mental health and work-related outcomes in the German working population.
KW - Alcohol
KW - drinking
KW - employee
KW - internet
KW - mental health
KW - occupational health
KW - training
KW - treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85037356029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85037356029&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85037356029&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29105879
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14085
DO - https://doi.org/10.1111/add.14085
M3 - Article
C2 - 29105879
SN - 0965-2140
VL - 113
SP - 635
EP - 646
JO - Addiction
JF - Addiction
IS - 4
ER -