A brief live interactive normative group intervention using wireless keypads to reduce drinking and alcohol consequences in college student athletes.
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Date
2009-03-26
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Misperceptions of how members of one s social group think and act influence behaviour The current study was designed to extend the research of group specific normative feedback interventions among salient campus groups with heightened risk Although not a randomised controlled trial this research used normative feedback that was obtained using wireless keypad technology during a live session within sex specific student athlete groups to extend the proof of concept of using this brief interactive intervention DESIGN AND METHODS Participants included 660 intercollegiate athletes from all varsity athletic teams at two private mid size universities Intervention data were gathered in vivo using computerised handheld keypads into which group members entered in personal responses to a series of alcohol related questions These questions assessed perceptions of normative group behaviour and attitudes as well as actual individual behaviour and attitudes These data were then immediately presented back in graphical form to illustrate discrepancies between perceived and actual group norms RESULTS Results revealed that at 1 month post intervention perceived group norms behaviour attitudes and consequences reduced compared with baseline These reductions were maintained at 2 month follow up Latent growth modelling suggested that the reductions in perceived norms and attitudes were associated with reductions in individual drinking behaviour and negative consequences DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS These results are among the first to suggest the effectiveness of a novel group based normative alcohol intervention among student athletes Limitations of the design preclude strong inferences about efficacy however the findings support further trialling of such information technology in alcohol treatment research