Computer-delivered interventions to reduce college student drinking: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of computer-delivered interventions (CDIs) to reduce alcohol use among college students.


METHODS
We included 35 manuscripts with 43 separate interventions, and calculated both between-group and within-group effect sizes for alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Effects sizes were calculated for short-term (< or =5 weeks) and long-term (> or =6 weeks) intervals. All studies were coded for study descriptors, participant characteristics and intervention components.


RESULTS
The effects of CDIs depended on the nature of the comparison condition: CDIs reduced quantity and frequency measures relative to assessment-only controls, but rarely differed from comparison conditions that included alcohol-relevant content. Small-to-medium within-group effect sizes can be expected for CDIs at short- and long-term follow-ups; these changes are less than or equivalent to the within-group effect sizes observed for more intensive interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
CDIs reduce the quantity and frequency of drinking among college students. CDIs are generally equivalent to alternative alcohol-related comparison interventions.
Carey
Kate B
KB
Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, NY 13244-2340, USA.
Scott-Sheldon
Lori A J
LA
Elliott
Jennifer C
JC
Bolles
Jamie R
JR
Carey
Michael P
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000639:trends; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013334:Students; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
D000431:Ethanol