NCT00374153

Southern Methodist Alcohol Research Trial (SMART)

Dismantling Motivational Interviewing and Feedback for College Drinkers

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 363 (actual)
• Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to look at the effects of assessment, feedback and motivational interviewing on alcohol consumption among college drinkers.

Detailed description

Excessive alcohol consumption has been a growing problem at many US colleges. In response, colleges and universities have instituted a range of alcohol intervention and prevention programs for students. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is one brief intervention that has been shown to reduce heavy drinking among college students. To date, all college studies of MI have used a format that includes an assessment and feedback delivered in an MI style. Although this format has considerable empirical support, it remains unclear which of the components is necessary to produce behavior change. This study will evaluate the separate and collective effects of MI and feedback among "binge" drinking college students. Additionally, this study will evaluate the effects of the initial drinking assessment, through including a delayed-assessment control group. After an initial screen, 350 students at Southern Methodist University who report at least one heavy (i.e., "binge") episode during the previous two weeks will be randomized to: (1) MI with feedback, (2) MI without feedback, (3) Mailed feedback only, (4) Assessment only, or (5) Delayed assessment only. MI sessions will be delivered by trained and supervised counselors. Participants will be assessed via a secure Internet site at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months (12 months only for the Delayed-assessment group), with primary outcome measures including self-reported quantity and frequency of drinking, and drinking-related problems. Since college drinking is associated with substantial negative effects for drinkers, as well as for others, the findings of this study may have significant public health implications in terms of reducing costs, and improving services for students who choose to drink.

Conditions

• Alcohol Consumption

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Feedback	Online personal feedback report
BEHAVIORAL	Motivational Interview with Feedback	In-person Motivational Interview with personal feedback report
BEHAVIORAL	Motivational Interview	In-person Motivational Interview only (without a personal feedback report)

Timeline

• Start date: 2006-09-01
• Primary completion: 2008-06-01
• Completion: 2009-01-01
• First posted: 2006-09-08
• Last updated: 2010-03-10

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States