Peer‐ and web‐based interventions for risky drinking among US National Guard members: Mission Strong randomized controlled trial

Abstract

AbstractAimsTo test separatel the efficacy of a web‐based and a peer‐based brief intervention (BI), compared with an expanded usual care control (EUC) group, among military reserve component members using alcohoI in a hazardous and harmful manner.DesignIn the randomized controlled trial, participants were assigned to: [1] web‐based BI with web‐based boosters (BI + web), [2] web‐based BI with peer‐based boosters (BI + peer) or [3] enhanced usual care (EUC).SettingMichigan, USA.ParticipantsA total of 739 Michigan Army National Guard members who reported recent hazardous alcohol use; 84% were male, the mean age was 28 years.InterventionThe BI consisted of an interactive program guided by a personally selected avatar. Boosters were delivered either on the web or personally by a trained veteran peer. A pamphlet, given to all participants, included information on hazardous alcohol use and military‐specific community resources and served as the EUC condition.MeasurementsThe primary outcome measure was binge drinking episodes in the past 30 days, measured at 12 months after the BI.FindingsAll randomized participants were included in the outcome analyses. In adjusted analyses, BI + peer [beta = −0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.56 to −0.31, P < 0.001] and BI + web (beta = −0.34, 95% CI = −0.46 to −0.23, P < 0.001) reduced binge drinking compared with EUC.ConclusionThis satudy was a web‐based brief intervention for hazardous alcohol use, with either web‐ or peer‐based boosters, reduced binge alcohol use among Army National Guard members.