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Web-based intervention for young adults experiencing anxiety and hazardous alcohol use: Study protocol for an 18-month randomized controlled trial.

Authors :
Prior K
Baillie AJ
Newton N
Lee YY
Deady M
Guckel T
Wade L
Rapee RM
Hudson JL
Kay-Lambkin F
Slade T
Chatterton ML
Mihalopoulos C
Teesson MR
Stapinski LA
Source :
Addiction (Abingdon, England) [Addiction] 2024 Sep; Vol. 119 (9), pp. 1635-1647. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 09.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Background and Aims: Alcohol use and anxiety often co-occur, causing increased severity impairment. This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that aims to test the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a web-based, self-guided alcohol and anxiety-focused program, compared with a web-based brief alcohol-focused program, for young adults who drink at hazardous levels and experience anxiety. It will also test moderators and mechanisms of change underlying the intervention effects.<br />Design: This RCT will be conducted with a 1:1 parallel group.<br />Setting: The study will be a web-based trial in Australia.<br />Participants: Individuals aged 17-30 years who drink alcohol at hazardous or greater levels and experience at least mild anxiety (n = 500) will be recruited through social media, media (TV, print) and community networks.<br />Intervention and Comparator: Participants will be randomly allocated to receive a web-based, integrated alcohol-anxiety program plus technical and motivational telephone/e-mail support (intervention) or a web-based brief alcohol-feedback program (control).<br />Measurements: Clinical measures will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (2 months), 6 months (primary end-point), 12 months and 18 months. Co-primary outcomes are hazardous alcohol consumption and anxiety symptom severity. Secondary outcomes are binge-drinking frequency; alcohol-related consequences; depression symptoms; clinical diagnoses of alcohol use or anxiety disorder (at 6 months post-intervention), health-care service use, educational and employment outcomes; and quality of life. Mediators and moderators will also be assessed. Efficacy will be tested using mixed models for repeated measures within an intention-to-treat framework. The economic evaluation will analyze individual-level health and societal costs and outcomes of participants between each trial arm, while mediation models will test for mechanisms of change.<br />Comments: This will be the first trial to test whether a developmentally targeted, web-based, integrated alcohol-anxiety intervention is effective in reducing hazardous alcohol use and anxiety severity among young adults. If successful, the integrated alcohol-anxiety program will provide an accessible intervention that can be widely disseminated to improve wellbeing of young adults, at minimal cost.<br /> (© 2024 The Authors. Addiction published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1360-0443
Volume :
119
Issue :
9
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38725272
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16522