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Prevention of Hazardous Use of Alcohol with Danish High School Students (Our Choice)

Not Applicable
Conditions
Healthy Participants
Interventions
Behavioral: Structural only
Behavioral: Structural+Group MI
Registration Number
NCT06018389
Lead Sponsor
University of Aarhus
Brief Summary

The trial 'Our Choice' examines the effect of two prevention interventions targeting school, parent, and student levels at Danish high schools. The interventions aim to reduce hazardous use of alcohol and related health outcomes among first-year students in Denmark (ages 15-18). The investigators hypothesizes that a structural intervention (school and parent levels) reduces hazardous alcohol use and related health outcomes compared to an assessment-only control group 12 months post baseline; and that adding group-based Motivational Interviewing (group MI) yields further improvements. Additionally, factors related to the implementation of the interventions are examined.

Detailed Description

The main aim of the 'Our Choice' cluster randomized controlled multisite trial is to test the efficacy of interventions aimed at reducing hazardous use of alcohol and related health outcomes among first-year students (15-18 years) in high schools in Denmark. Furthermore, the aim is to examine feasibility and acceptability of the interventions with Danish students in high school, as well as with staff (e.g., teachers and principals) to inform future implementation studies.

The study employs a parallel group cluster randomized controlled trial design with three conditions:

1. Structural condition targeting school and parent levels via school policies for school-based social events and an information-based interactive parent meeting.

2. Structural condition combined with group-based Motivational Interviewing (group MI) which also targets the student level.

3. Assessment-only control condition with the same assessments as the other two conditions and with interventions offered after the last follow-up survey.

The study hypothesizes that students in the structural condition (school and parent levels) reduce hazardous alcohol use and related health outcomes compared to students in the assessment-only control condition 12 months post baseline; and that adding group MI yields further improvements.

A participatory approach is used to adapt and develop interventions. Sixteen high schools in Denmark and N=3100 first-year students enrolled in high school in August 2023 will be recruited. Data will be collected via online questionnaires pre-interventions (baseline), 2, 6, 9 and 12 months post baseline. The primary outcome will be analyzed with generalized linear mixed models. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed via surveys (students) and interviews (high school staff) to inform future implementation.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
3100
Inclusion Criteria
  • Students starting high school in one of the 16 participating high schools in August 2023
  • Minimum 15 years old
  • Understand and speak Danish
  • Able to give independent informed consent
  • Staff (school principals, teachers, or administrative employees) from one of the 16 participating high schools
Exclusion Criteria
  • Under 15 years old

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Structural OnlyStructural onlyThe Structural Only condition consists of (1) school policies for school-based social events; and (2) an information-based interactive parent meeting. Interventions in this arm are targeting the school and parent level.
Structural+Group MIStructural onlyThe Structural+Group MI condition consists of the elements described in "Structural Only" and group MI. Interventions in this arm are targeting all three levels: school, parent and student level.
Structural+Group MIStructural+Group MIThe Structural+Group MI condition consists of the elements described in "Structural Only" and group MI. Interventions in this arm are targeting all three levels: school, parent and student level.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Past month high-intensity drinkingFrom baseline to 12 months after baseline

Past month high-intensity drinking: peak drinks per drinking event, assessed with the Timeline FollowBack (TLFB) (count measure)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Past month alcohol-related consequencesFrom baseline to 12 months after baseline

Assessed by 21 items covering physical, social and mental issues related to hazardous use of alcohol, developed by the team for Danish youth based on single items from previous Danish surveys and the Rutgers Alcohol Problems Index e.g. black-outs, (emotional) hangovers), sexual contact that was later regretted, with yes/no response options (summed score: range 0-21) with higher scores indicating more negative consequences.

Well-being in classFrom baseline to 12 months after baseline

Assessed by six items rated on a five-point scale from 'completely disagree' to 'completely agree' e.g., I feel accepted by the others in my class (summed score: range 0-30) with a score of 30 representing the best possible well-being in class.

Past month heavy episodic drinking eventsFrom baseline to 12 months after baseline

Past month heavy episodic drinking events assessed by TLFB (count measure).

World Health Organization Five Well-being Index (WHO-5)From baseline to 12 months after baseline

Psychological well-being, assessed by The World Health Organization Five Well-being Index (summed score: range 0-25) with a score of 25 representing the best possible quality of life.

Past month use of illegal substancesFrom baseline to 12 months after baseline

Measured by days using cannabis, cocaine, and other illegal drugs (count measure: range 0-30 days).

Past month use of tobaccoFrom baseline to 12 months after baseline

Measured by days using tobacco (count measure: range 0-30 days)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus BSS, Aarhus University

🇩🇰

Aarhus, Denmark

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