Self-assessment of drinking on the Internet--3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work was to report on the results of a pilot study of a web-based self-assessment service (DHT) for Finnish drinkers (www.paihdelinkki.fi/testaa/juomatapatesti).


METHODS
During the 7-month recruitment period in 2004 altogether 22,536 anonymous self-assessments were recorded in the database of this service. The study sample was recruited from the 1598 service users who also participated to a survey evaluating the DHT. Those who consented by providing required baseline data and their e-mail address (n = 343) were sent a message asking them to fill in the follow-up questions 3, 6 and 12 months later. Their self-reported use of alcohol and drinking-related problems served as the main outcome variables in this single-group follow-up study.


RESULTS
At 3, 6 and 12 months, 78%, 69% and 61% of the study participants, respectively, responded to the follow-up. The intention-to-treat (ITT) results revealed significant reductions (P < 0.001) in all the outcome measures. The reductions occurred during the first 3 months, after which the changes were non-significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are in line with previous studies with mostly shorter follow-up periods suggesting that Internet-based self-assessment services can be useful tools in reducing excessive drinking. A randomized controlled trial would, however, increase our certainty about the causes of the observed changes.
Koski-Jännes
Anja
A
Department of Social Research, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. anja.koski-jannes@uta.fi
Cunningham
John
J
Tolonen
Kari
K
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012649:Self Concept