title: Reductions in drinking and alcohol-related harms reported by first-year college students taking an online alcohol education course: a randomized trial.
abstract: A randomized control trial was conducted at a midsized private university in the Northeast to evaluate the short-term impact of AlcoholEdu for College 8.0, an online alcohol course for first-year students. In September 2007, 1,620 matriculated first-year students were randomly assigned to either a treatment group or an assessment-only control group. Both groups of students completed a baseline survey and knowledge test. Treatment group students finished the course, took a second knowledge test, and 30 days later completed a postintervention survey. Control group students completed the postintervention survey and knowledge test during the same time period. Compared with the control group, treatment group students reported a significantly lower level of alcohol use, fewer negative drinking consequences, and less positive alcohol-related attitudes. AlcoholEdu 8.0 had a positive impact on the first-year students' alcohol-related attitudes, behaviors, and consequences. Additional investigations of online alcohol education courses are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lovecchio
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: DeJong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D017149:Private Sector; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult