Trial registration ISRCTN47285230: http://www.controlled-trials.com/isrctn47285230.
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Web-based self-help for problem drinkers: a pragmatic randomized trial
Article first published online: 11 JAN 2008
DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02063.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Riper, H., Kramer, J., Smit, F., Conijn, B., Schippers, G. and Cuijpers, P. (2008), Web-based self-help for problem drinkers: a pragmatic randomized trial. Addiction, 103: 218–227. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02063.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 11 JAN 2008
- Article first published online: 11 JAN 2008
- Submitted 20 June 2007; initial review completed 22 August 2007; final version accepted 3 October 2007
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Keywords:
- General population;
- internet;
- pragmatic randomized controlled trial;
- problem drinking;
- self-help
ABSTRACT
Aims Self-help interventions for adult problem drinkers in the general population have proved effective. The question is whether this also holds for self-help interventions delivered over the internet.
Design We conducted a pragmatic randomized trial with two parallel groups, using block randomization stratified for gender and with follow-up at 6 months.
Setting The intervention and trial were conducted online in the Netherlands in 2003–2004.
Participants We selected 261 adult problem drinkers from the general population with a weekly alcohol consumption above 210 g of ethanol for men or 140 g for women, or consuming at least 60 g (men) or 40 g (women) at least 1 day a week over the past 3 months. Participants were randomized to either the experimental drinking less (DL) condition or to the control condition (PBA).
Intervention DL is a web-based, multi-component, interactive self-help intervention for problem drinkers without therapist guidance. The recommended treatment period is 6 weeks. The intervention is based on cognitive–behavioural and self-control principles. The control group received access to an online psychoeducational brochure on alcohol use (PBA).
Outcome measures We assessed the following outcome measures at 6-month follow-up: (i) the percentage of participants who had reduced their drinking levels to within the normative limits of the Dutch guideline for low-risk drinking; and (ii) the reduction in mean weekly alcohol consumption.
Findings At follow-up, 17.2% of the intervention group participants had reduced their drinking successfully to within the guideline norms; in the control group this was 5.4% [odds ratio (OR) = 3.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–10.8; P = 0.006; number needed to treat (NNT) = 8.5]. The intervention subjects decreased their mean weekly alcohol consumption significantly more than control subjects, with a difference of 12.0 standardized units (95% CI 5.9–18.1; P < 0.001; standardized mean difference 0.40).
Conclusions To our knowledge this is one of the first randomized controlled trials on a web-based self-help intervention without therapist guidance for self-referred problem drinkers among the adult general population. The intervention showed itself to be effective in reducing problem drinking in the community.