The purpose of this project is to develop and test indicated prevention intervention to harness support and health promoting endeavors to address use of alcohol to cope with reintegration challenges in Massachusetts National Guard (MANG) service members.
Specific Aim 1: To modify the existing, efficacious Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy (ABCT) manual into a 6-session prevention protocol, called Alcohol Behavioral Couple Prevention (ABCP) that will be developed for delivery via in-person and telehealth platforms. The goal of the new ABCP is for individuals or family dyads to learn to work together to minimize hazardous drinking in order to effectively address other problems often present among returning service members. Specific Aim 2: To field test feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a prevention protocol using a successive cohort design. First, an in-person protocol will be tested with 4 National Guard (NG) members and then adapt and test the protocol for 4 NG members via an analog telehealth design. Again, the manual and accompanied materials will be revised. Specific Aim 3: To conduct a small Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to compare 2 conditions with 22 NG Members in each: (1) In person (ABCP\_P; 11 individual, 11 dyad), and (2) Telehealth (ABCP\_T; 11 individual, 11 dyad).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
6 weekly sessions of alcohol prevention conducted in person.
6 weekly sessions of alcohol prevention conducted by video conference.
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Percent Drinking Days
Derived from Timeline Followback (TLFB)
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2 months post session 1
Percent Heavy Drinking Days
Derived from Timeline Followback (TLFB)
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2 months post session 1
Mean Drinks Per Drinking Day
Derived from Timeline Followback (TLFB)
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2 months post session 1
Attitude Items
6 item self-report questionnaire assessing attitudes toward drinking under different circumstances. Item scores were summed to calculate total scores, with scores ranging from 6 to 24. Higher scores indicate greater attitudes about acceptability of drinking across situations.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks
Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire 3
40 item self-report questionnaire assessing thoughts, feelings and beliefs about alcohol. Sub scale scores are calculated by averaging item scores. Positive expectancy subscales are Global positive, Social and physical pleasure, Social expressiveness, Sexual enhancement, Power and aggression, and Tension reduction and relaxation. Negative expectancy sub scales are Cognitive and physical impairment, and Careless unconcern. Higher scores indicate greater expectancies.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2 months post Session 1
Coping Strategies Scale
25-item brief measure assessing coping in alcohol-specific and non-alcohol situations. Scores range from 1-4 and higher scores indicate greater use of coping skills. Total score is calculated by averaging all values.
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Time frame: Change from baseline at 2 months post Session 1
World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Questionnaire - Bref
26-item self report assessing quality of life across 4 domains/subscales: Physical health, Psychological, Social relationships, Environment. The first two items measure quality of life and overall health and are examined separately, with scores ranging from 1-5. The four domain scores are calculated by averaging values and scores range from 1-5. Higher scores indicate higher quality of life within each domain. Mean scores are then multiplied by 4 in order to make domain scores comparable with the scores used in the WHOQOL-100 (full scale measure).
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2 months post Session 1
Treatment Services Review
Interview assessing quantity and type of services received (e.g., health, psychological) outside of study intervention. Total scores are calculated by summing the number of outside services used. Total scores have a minimum of 0 and no maximum value.
Time frame: Weekly for up to 8 weeks
Couple Satisfaction Inventory 16
16 item measure assessing satisfaction in couple relationship. Scores range from 0 to 81 and higher scores indicate higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Total score is calculated by summing all values.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks
Perceived Social Support - Family
20 item self report assessing perceived level of social support from family members. Higher scores indicate higher level of perceived social support.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks
Working Alliance Inventory Short Form
12-item self-report measure of the therapeutic alliance. Total scales are calculated by summing all values. Values range from 1-7 with total scores ranging from 12 to 84). Higher scores indicate greater alliance.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks
Use of Prevention Skills
Self-report questionnaire assessing use of skills learned during prevention. Item scores range from 1-5 and a total score is calculated by summing all values. Higher scores indicate greater use of skills.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks
Outcomes Questionnaire (OQ) - 30
30 item self-report questionnaire assessing past week psychological well-being. Scores are summed across items and range from 0 to 120, with higher scores indicating worse psychological well-being.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks
Copello Coping Questionnaire
30 item self-report assessing partner alcohol-related coping skill use. Total score is calculated by summing the values from each item and scores range from 0-90 with higher scored indicating greater use of coping strategies.
Time frame: Baseline and through study completion, about 8 weeks