2010 — 2011 |
Henson, James M. |
R03Activity Code Description: To provide research support specifically limited in time and amount for studies in categorical program areas. Small grants provide flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for preliminary short-term projects and are non-renewable. |
Subpopulation Differences in Intervention Efficacy For College Drinkers @ Old Dominion University
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Subpopulation Differences in Intervention Efficacy for College Drinkers. Despite prevention efforts, college binge drinking continues to account for a myriad of negative personal and social alcohol-related consequences. Brief motivational interventions (BMIs) have proved efficacious in reducing college alcohol consumption;however, averaging across people, reported intervention effects tend to be small and short-lived. It is often of more interest to understand who responds to an intervention rather than determine the average effect across different subpopulations. Instead of characterizing intervention efficacy for a "typical" college drinker, the purpose of this research is to characterize intervention effects across different subpopulations, or types, of drinkers. Moderation analyses test hypothesized factors that may influence intervention efficacy. In contrast to traditional moderation analyses, growth mixture modeling (GMM) empirically explores the data to identify homogenous longitudinal patterns in alcohol consumption without need of pre-identified predictors. Using GMMs, past research has identified up to five types of drinkers regarding naturally-occurring trajectories of alcohol consumption over time;however, the proposed project takes a novel approach by exploring drinking patterns following intervention. The proposed project includes secondary data analysis of 3 randomized clinical trials with a combined total of 1,384 college-student drinkers (509 volunteers, 875 mandated as a result of alcohol violations), whose drinking behaviors were assessed at baseline, and at 1, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Participants were randomized into a BMI (n = 602), 1 of 2 computerized interventions (Alcohol 101, n = 271;Alcohol EDU, n = 167), or a no-intervention control condition (n = 344). The four specific aims are a) to identify how many different subpopulations of college drinkers exist regarding short- and long-term response to an alcohol BMI;b) to characterize BMI efficacy relative to computerized intervention and a control for each type of drinker;c) to use demographic and psychological explanatory variables to characterize each drinker subpopulation;and d) ascertain how drinker subpopulations relate to high-risk alcohol consequences. Discontinuous GMMs will be used to ascertain how different types of drinkers uniquely respond following intervention from baseline to 1-month (short-term effect) and from 1-month to 12- months (long-term effect), as well as to identify relevant psychological predictors of drinker subpopulations among both sanctioned individuals and volunteers. Results of this research can be used to understand who is most receptive to BMI intervention, to guide screening efforts to reliably detect high-risk individuals, and to use the information about the most resistant subpopulation(s) to inform future intervention development. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Subpopulation Differences in Intervention Efficacy for College Drinkers The proposed research will use innovative and advanced statistical modeling to identify subpopulation characteristics of individuals who respond and do not respond to interventions designed to reduce alcohol consumption among college drinkers. The results of this research can be used to understand who is most receptive to brief motivational intervention, to guide screening efforts to reliably detect high-risk individuals, and to use the information about the most resistant subpopulation(s) to inform future intervention development. Improved screening and intervention methods are critical to reducing personal and social alcohol-related consequences among college populations.
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0.942 |
2015 — 2019 |
Henson, James M. |
R01Activity Code Description: To support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his or her specific interest and competencies. |
Efficacy and Mechanisms of Technology-Based Behavioral Interventions @ Old Dominion University
? DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): College student alcohol use is a major public health concern (NIAAA, 2002b). Large scale surveys indicate that approximately 68% of college students drink alcohol every month (Johnston et al., 2006) and 40% of college students engage in heavy episodic drinking (NIAAA, 2004). Despite prevention/intervention efforts, problematic alcohol consumption among college students continues to result in an estimated 1,800 deaths and 600,000 injuries annually (Hingson, Zha, & Weitzman, 2009), and epidemiological studies demonstrate no appreciable decrease in risk among college students (e.g., Johnston et al., 2006). The purpose of the proposed research is to improve extant college-drinking interventions by advancing the dissemination methodology and the intervention content (Specific Aim 1). As a methodological improvement, rapid advances in mobile computing makes ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) increasingly feasible (Heron et al., 2012). EMIs refer to interventions that can be delivered multiple times and in the moment. EMIs can optimize the timing and location of the intervention while also increasing the dose of the intervention. To improve the intervention content, we focus our research on protective behavioral strategies (PBS) to reduce alcohol problems, not just alcohol use. PBS are behaviors that one can engage in immediately prior to, during, and immediately following alcohol use that limit alcohol use, alcohol intoxication, and/or alcohol-related harm (Pearson, 2013). Across multiple studies and investigators, research suggests that PBS use can protect individuals from alcohol problems above and beyond its effect on reducing alcohol use (Martens et al., 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011; Pearson, Kite, & Henson, 2012a; Pearson, Kite, & Henson, 2012b; Pearson, Kite, & Henson; 2013). The primary purpose of this research is to provide a more powerful test of a PBS intervention's effects on alcohol- related consequences by using a technology-based intervention methodology (i.e., EMI). Participants will be randomized by gender into to a fully crossed, 3 (Standard BMI, BMI with a PBS component, control) X 2 (PBS- based EMI, Ecological Assessment Only [EMA]) design. We selected these 6 conditions to answer several critically important research questions (Specific Aim 2): a) does the addition of a PBS component improve the efficacy of a standard BMI, b) does a PBS-based EMI improve efficacy over the standard, single session BMI, c) does the combination of motivation-based intervention (BMI) with a skills-based intervention (EMI) yield even greater decreases in consequences (i.e., moderation). A final purpose of this research is to identify mechanisms of behavior change to optimize intervention development. Specifically, we will be examining PBS norms, PBS perceived effectiveness, and motivation to change PBS use as novel mediators of the improved interventions. Results can be used to disseminate more effective college drinking interventions that are cheaper and more efficacious at reducing alcohol problems, not just use.
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0.942 |