Alcohol Misuse Intervention in Active Duty US Navy Personnel

U.S. Navy active duty personnel were recruited to participate in a randomized pilot trial evaluating the efficacy of a 3 minute video intervention designed to promote safer drinking and reduce adverse consequences of alcohol use. All subjects were provided informed consent prior to participation. An incentive of a $5 gift card was provided upon completion of T1, and a $10 gift card provided after completion of T2. Subject participation and data were anonymous; personal identifiers were collected in order to link samples and surveys between timepoint 1 (T1) and timepoint 2 (T2), but after the linking, all identifier data were destroyed. To minimize risk associated with collecting personal identifiers, we did not retain any personal identifiers, to include sex categorization of participants. Subjects completed the T1 survey with only study ID on the form and were then asked to provide a urine sample.

Urine samples were collected in toilet facilities onboard the ship. The collections were not monitored. Urine samples were labelled with the subject ID number and stored at 4 degrees C until they could be shipped. For T1, samples remained refrigerated over the weekend as receiving personnel would not be available during the weekend; at T2, the samples were shipped the following day.

At T1, after providing the urine sample, the intervention subjects watched a 3 minute video, while the control subjects left the area without watching the video.

After the long weekend, subjects were asked to return to the study area, complete a brief survey, and provide a second urine specimen.

The 3 minute video was created for this pilot study. One of the authors with experience in inoculation theory (RJD) guided the content of the video, which was produced, directed and filmed at the New York University Film School.