Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual Violence in Higher Education

Overview

This cluster-randomized controlled trial across 28+ college campuses focuses on undergraduate college students at elevated risk for sexual violence and hazardous drinking (i.e., students with prior history of sexual violence, students who are sexual or gender minority, and students with disabilities). "Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual violence in higher Education (RAISE)" is a longitudinal study that will test research-informed strategies to improve implementation of a prevention intervention in college health and counseling centers, integrate a safety decision aid (via computer or mobile device) to more directly target harm reduction among students particularly vulnerable to hazardous drinking and SV, and evaluate campus policies that increase accessibility and uptake of confidential services for students. This is the first study to situate a sexual violence prevention intervention in college health and counseling centers to address two significant public health concerns -- alcohol-involved sexual violence and hazardous drinking on college campuses.

This is a collaborative study across 28+ college campuses focused on tailored harm reduction interventions to reduce risk for sexual violence (SV) among undergraduate college students receiving care from college health and counseling centers (CHCs). "Reducing Alcohol Involved Sexual violence in higher Education (RAISE)" is a longitudinal study that builds on a previous cluster-randomized controlled trial on college campuses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia (R01 AA023260). The study aims to reach students at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking: students with history of SV, students who identify as sexual/gender minority, and students who have disabilities (65% of our previous sample). SV, particularly alcohol-involved SV, remains highly prevalent on college campuses. A previous study by this research team found that a large proportion of students seeking care in CHCs have experienced SV victimization (n=2291, 64% of women, 32% of men re-port lifetime SV) which is associated with binge drinking. Students identifying as sexual or gender minority or endorsing a disability (i.e., physical, emotional, sensory, neurologic, and learning impairments) report particularly high lifetime prevalence of SV that is associated with greater odds of binge drinking compared to students not exposed to SV. The previous RCT involved training CHC staff to deliver a brief educational intervention to re-duce SV risk, titled "Giving Information for Trauma Support and Safety" (GIFTSS), to all students seeking care. Implementation varied across CHCs. Among students who received GIFTSS as intended, the study found significant increases in self-efficacy to use harm reduction strategies and SV-related services. Students with history of SV had greater than four-fold increase in odds of disclosing this history to providers. The study identified provider-, clinic-and campus-level changes needed to improve intervention delivery. To more directly target use of harm reduction strategies among students at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking, this current study will also integrate a safety decision aid (myPlan app for use on smartphone or computer) which increases harm reduction behaviors among college women experiencing partner violence. The focus of this renewal is to 1) test strategies to improve implementation of GIFTSS, 2) offer support for students at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking with tailored harm reduction strategies delivered via the myPlan app after the clinic visit, and 3) strengthen campus policies to promote access to SV services and reduce hazardous drinking. A 2x2 cluster randomized controlled trial will compare two implementation strategies for GIFTSS in CHCs (provider scripts vs. learning collaborative) focusing on undergraduate students ages 18-24 (N= 2400 across 28 campuses) with follow-up at 4 months and 12 months (Aim 1). The trial will also assess effectiveness of myPlan in increasing uptake of tailored harm reduction strategies for those at elevated risk for SV and hazardous drinking (Aim 2). Finally, the study will examine alcohol and SV policy changes on each campus that may increase access to and uptake of confidential services among students at elevated risk for hazardous drinking and SV (Aim 3).