Moderators of outcomes in a fully-automated web-based brief motivational alcohol intervention for adolescents

TY - JOUR

T1 - Moderators of outcomes in a fully-automated web-based brief motivational alcohol intervention for adolescents

AU - Arnaud, Nicolas

AU - Baldus-Firnhaber, Christiane

AU - Elgán, Tobias

AU - Tonnesen, Hanne

AU - De Paepe, Nina

AU - Csemy, Ladislav

AU - Thomasius, Rainer

PY - 2015/12/6

Y1 - 2015/12/6

N2 - Abstract: Aims: In this article we explore the moderators of effectiveness of WISEteens (Web-based brief Intervention for SubstancE usingteens), a fully automated web-based brief motivational intervention targeting risky substance use among adolescents. Based on previousstudies, we examined the differential effects on drinking of sex, readiness to change, self-efficacy, alcohol risk status, and parentalmonitoring as hypothesized moderators. Methods:We analyzed completers data from a two-armed RCT study with follow-up assessmentafter 3 months, including N = 211 self-enrolled adolescents (16 –18 years) who screened positive for at-risk substance use in Sweden,Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The trial compared a single-session brief motivational intervention to an assessment-onlycontrol group with AUDIT-C scores for drinking frequency, quantity, and frequency of binge drinking in the past month as study outcome.Results: The analyses revealed a statistically significant moderation effect for sex on drinking in the previous month, with a stronger effectfor males. In contrast, readiness to change, self-efficacy, alcohol risk status, and parental monitoring did not moderate the effects.Conclusions: Although the trial was limited by large dropout, our findings imply that web-based interventions can be particularly effectivefor male adolescents, although the effects of WISEteens were largely independent of other individual characteristics. Web-based briefintervention should integrate gender-specific components to raise effectiveness for females.

AB - Abstract: Aims: In this article we explore the moderators of effectiveness of WISEteens (Web-based brief Intervention for SubstancE usingteens), a fully automated web-based brief motivational intervention targeting risky substance use among adolescents. Based on previousstudies, we examined the differential effects on drinking of sex, readiness to change, self-efficacy, alcohol risk status, and parentalmonitoring as hypothesized moderators. Methods:We analyzed completers data from a two-armed RCT study with follow-up assessmentafter 3 months, including N = 211 self-enrolled adolescents (16 –18 years) who screened positive for at-risk substance use in Sweden,Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The trial compared a single-session brief motivational intervention to an assessment-onlycontrol group with AUDIT-C scores for drinking frequency, quantity, and frequency of binge drinking in the past month as study outcome.Results: The analyses revealed a statistically significant moderation effect for sex on drinking in the previous month, with a stronger effectfor males. In contrast, readiness to change, self-efficacy, alcohol risk status, and parental monitoring did not moderate the effects.Conclusions: Although the trial was limited by large dropout, our findings imply that web-based interventions can be particularly effectivefor male adolescents, although the effects of WISEteens were largely independent of other individual characteristics. Web-based briefintervention should integrate gender-specific components to raise effectiveness for females.

U2 - 10.1024/0939-5911.a000397

DO - 10.1024/0939-5911.a000397

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

VL - 61

SP - 1

EP - 11

JO - SUCHT

JF - SUCHT

SN - 0939-5911

IS - 6

ER -