Brief Alcohol Interventions With Mobile Phone Applications for University Students: Interventions Targeting Differing Risk Levels in Two Consecutive Randomized Controlled Trials

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of three mobile phone applications, Promillekoll, PartyPlanner and TeleCoach among university student union members with problematic drinking. Two trials are conducted, one a three-armed randomized controlled study, and the second a two-armed randomized control study. Outcomes are measured in terms of changes in problematic alcohol use at follow up 6,12 and 18 weeks after baseline data gathering. Both the Promillekoll and PartyPlanner apps feature real time registration of alcohol consumption and give feedback of estimated blood alcohol concentration levels. PartyPlanner also allows for planning an alcohol consumption event in advance and for later comparison of the plan with actual consumption. Study 1 compares these two apps with a control group. In Study 2, participants reporting alcohol consumption above the weekly recommended level are redirected to randomized assignment to an in-depth app, TeleCoach, which offers different exercises for reducing alcohol use. After 6 weeks the controls are offered the TeleCoach intervention for 6 weeks, and the first intervention group loses app access. In both studies, followup occurs 6, 12 and 18 weeks after baseline registration.

Hypotheses:

Study 1: 1. The groups receiving the Promillekoll and PartyPlanner interventions will reduce their alcohol use to a larger extent than the control group at follow-up compared to the baseline level. 2. The planning function in PartyPlanner will be associated with an increased decrease in alcohol consumption compared to only real-time use for Promillekoll.

Study 2: The proportion of participants with risky use above recommended levels will decline faster in the group that receives the intervention first, in comparison to controls.