title: Using qualitative methods within a mixed-methods approach to developing and evaluating interventions to address harmful alcohol use among young people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article illustrates how qualitative methods can be used in the development and evaluation of behavior change interventions. Although many campaigns advise young people to drink responsibly, few clarify how to convert this general advice into specific behavioral strategies. Resilience-based approaches argue that treating young non-drinkers and moderate drinkers as "experts" in responsible alcohol use may facilitate co-creation of acceptable interventions that focus on how to change behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four distinct phases of intervention development were linked to past research and future developments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  First, analysis of correlates of alcohol use using data from a survey of 1,412 people aged 16-21 indicated that alcohol harm-reduction interventions should help young people to develop skills and strategies to resist alcohol. Second, interpretative phenomenological analysis of 25 interviews with people purposively selected from among the survey sample identified general strategies and specific tactics used by young people to manage opportunities to drink. Third, insights from the first 2 phases and past qualitative research guided development of video resources to be use in school-based alcohol education to illustrate strategies and tactics for moderate or non-use of alcohol. Fourth, 18 focus groups with students and teachers were used to evaluate the video: structured thematic analysis indicated that after revision the video would be a valuable addition to school-based alcohol education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from the 4 phases highlight the value of using different qualitative and quantitative methods as part of a program of work designed to inform the development, refinement, and evaluation of health psychology interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology.
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: de Visser
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Graber
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Brighton.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: University of Exeter Medical School.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Directorate of Public Health, Brighton & Hove City Council.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics, University of Sussex.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watten
authors.affiliation: Brighton & Sussex Medical School.
authors.forename: Anjum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult