JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

College students involved in Greek life (i.e., members of fraternities and sororities) tend to engage in more high-risk alcohol use and experience more negative consequences than those not involved in Greek life. Web-based alcohol interventions, such as Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO, have been successful in reducing alcohol use and consequences among the general college student population, but interventions targeting alcohol reductions among those involved in Greek life have had limited success. Booster emails including personalized feedback regarding descriptive norms and protective behavioral strategies have shown promise in increasing the effectiveness of online interventions among college drinkers. Research is needed to determine the efficacy of these boosters among those involved in Greek life.

Objective:

The primary objective of the current study is to assess the efficacy of booster emails sent to Greek life students who complete Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO. Specifically, we expect that participants who receive the booster emails will reduce their alcohol consumption and related problems (primary aim 1), as well as reduce perceived peer drinking and increase the number of protective behavioral strategies they use over time (primary aim 2), relative to those who do not receive boosters. Contingent upon finding the emailed booster efficacious and sufficient enrollment of members from each organization, an exploratory aim is to examine social mechanisms of change (i.e., through selection versus socialization).

Methods:

The current study is a remote, controlled intervention trial following participants up to 6 months. Participants must be at least 18 years old, an undergraduate student, and a member of a participating fraternity or sorority. Eligible participants complete an online baseline survey to assess their alcohol consumption behaviors and beliefs, including norms and protective behavioral strategies, and information about their social networks. After completing the baseline survey, they participate in the web-based intervention. Follow-up surveys are sent at 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention. Those in the booster condition also receive emails containing personalized feedback at 2 weeks and 14 weeks post-intervention. Latent growth models and RSIENA will be used to analyze the data.

Results:

As of September 2022, we have enrolled 18 participants from two fraternities and two sororities who have completed baseline. Thirteen participants have completed the 1-month follow-up (72% compliance so far). Enrollment will continue through December 2022.

Conclusions:

The current study aims to examine the effectiveness of personalized feedback booster emails sent after an alcohol intervention among members of college Greek life. A secondary, exploratory aim will provide information about social mechanisms of change. However, this exploratory aim relies on the recruitment of entire fraternity and sorority chapters to analyze the influence of social networks for the members of the chapters. The current methodology targets whole network recruitment, with chapter presidents serving as gatekeepers and facilitators. The unique challenges of recruiting whole networks, and of working with camus administration, are discussed. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05107284