Testing Alcohol Interventions Among Job-seekers

University Medicine Greifswald1,243 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

1,243

Conditions

Hazardous Drinking

Interventions

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.

Non-stage-tailored InterventionBEHAVIORAL

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.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 64 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (3)

Agentur für Arbeit

Greifswald, Germany

Agentur für Arbeit

Stralsund, Germany

Arbeitsgemeinschaft

Stralsund, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Risky drinking

Determined by using average alcohol consumption per day, heavy occasional drinking, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumtion (AUDIT-C) score

Time frame: 6 and 15 months

Secondary Outcomes

Motivation to reduce drinking

Assessed by the Readiness to Change Questionnaire

Time frame: 6 and 15 months

Attempts to reduce drinking

Time frame: 6 and 15 months

Knowledge about drinking limits

Time frame: 6 and 15 months

Alcohol related problems

Time frame: 6 and 15 months

Self-rated health

Time frame: 6 and months