NCT06018389

Prevention of Hazardous Use of Alcohol with Danish High School Students (Our Choice)

Prevention of Hazardous Use of Alcohol Among High School Students in Denmark: a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 3,100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Aarhus · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 15 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The trial 'Our Choice' examines the effect of two prevention interventions targeting school, parent, and student levels at Danish high schools. The interventions aim to reduce hazardous use of alcohol and related health outcomes among first-year students in Denmark (ages 15-18). The investigators hypothesizes that a structural intervention (school and parent levels) reduces hazardous alcohol use and related health outcomes compared to an assessment-only control group 12 months post baseline; and that adding group-based Motivational Interviewing (group MI) yields further improvements. Additionally, factors related to the implementation of the interventions are examined.

Detailed description

The main aim of the 'Our Choice' cluster randomized controlled multisite trial is to test the efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing hazardous use of alcohol and related health outcomes among first-year students (15-18 years) in high schools in Denmark. Furthermore, the aim is to examine feasibility and acceptability of the interventions with Danish students in high school, as well as with staff (e.g., teachers and principals) to inform future implementation studies. The study employs a parallel group cluster randomized controlled trial design with three conditions: 1. Structural condition targeting school and parent levels via school policies for school-based social events and an information-based interactive parent meeting. 2. Structural condition combined with group-based Motivational Interviewing (group MI) which also targets the student level. 3. Assessment-only control condition with the same assessments as the other two conditions and with interventions offered after the last follow-up survey. The study hypothesizes that students in the structural condition (school and parent levels) reduce hazardous alcohol use and related health outcomes compared to students in the assessment-only control condition 12 months post baseline; and that adding group MI yields further improvements. A participatory approach is used to adapt and develop interventions. Sixteen high schools in Denmark and N=3100 first-year students enrolled in high school in August 2023 will be recruited. Data will be collected via online questionnaires pre-interventions (baseline), 2, 6, 9 and 12 months post baseline. The primary outcome will be analyzed with generalized linear mixed models. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed via surveys (students) and interviews (high school staff) to inform future implementation.

Conditions

• Healthy Participants

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Structural only	A shared list of school policies for or related to, school-based social events at school premises. The policy initiatives include (but are not limited to): increasing the number of social events without alcohol; promoting non-alcoholic beverages at parties; working with student associations regarding their roles and responsibilities; encouraging parental involvement at school events and disseminating the schools' alcohol policy among students and parents. The school principal and management will be responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the policies. The Information-based interactive parent meetings will be 45 minutes and will take place at the schools. Parents will be offered concrete, research-informed advice about how they can reduce risk of hazardous substance use and promote well-being among their adolescents. Following a 15-minute presentation, the group leader facilitates a discussion and exchange of experience between parents.
BEHAVIORAL	Structural+Group MI	Within school classes, students are divided into groups of 5-8 students and each group will be assigned a group leader from the research team. The group-based Motivational Interviewing (group MI) is manualized and consists of two one-hour group sessions administered over two consecutive weeks. The first session is focused on "Tell your story", "Gains from not drinking", and "Social norms." In the second session, the focus is on "Personal values", "Linking values with behavior" and "Planning/choices regarding alcohol". Both group MI sessions will take place at the schools during the school day.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-09
• Primary completion: 2026-08-01
• Completion: 2027-01-01
• First posted: 2023-08-30
• Last updated: 2024-12-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Denmark