Motivational Interviewing and Feedback for College Drinkers
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
This is a secondary intervention with the goal of modifying and treating drinking behavior in its early stages before it results in more serious consequences such as death. The intervention can be applied to any college student that has engaged in binge drinking. High alcohol consumption among college students leads to adverse individual health consequences as well as ramifications for the wider population.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a unique kind of counseling that seeks to actively change certain lifestyle habits or behavior. "Feedback" involves a personal analysis of students’ drinking habits and how they compare to the behavior of other students. Ph.D. level counselors and clinical psychology doctoral students facilitate the motivational interviews.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a unique kind of counseling that seeks to actively change certain lifestyle habits or behavior. "Feedback" involves a personal analysis of students’ drinking habits and how they compare to the behavior of other students. Ph.D. level counselors and clinical psychology doctoral students facilitate the motivational interviews.
Goal / Mission
The goal of the promising practice is to reduce binge-drinking behavior in college students using motivational interviewing and personalized feedback techniques.
Impact
At an eight-week follow-up, all four groups reduced their consumption, peak BAC, consequences, and dependence symptoms.
Results / Accomplishments
A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) and personalized feedback in reducing binge-drinking among college students. There were 279 student study participants that were split into four treatment groups. The first group had feedback alone (n=67), the second had a single MI session and a feedback report (n=73), the third had a single session of MI without a feedback report (n= 70), and the last had Assessment only (n=69.) Participants were assessed at three different times: baseline, 3-month follow-up, and a 6-month follow-up. One of the goals of the study was to find out whether implementing an intervention has an effect over assessment only approaches. Changes in the composite measure over the 6 month period showed that the Motivational Interviewing with Feedback (MIF) intervention made a significant difference in behavior (p<0.001). When looking at the MIF intervention against just the Assessment Only (AO) group there was a significant decrease in drinks consumed per week (p<0.01 at the 6-month follow-up). The baseline measurement for drinks per week was 15.5 standard drinks. After going through MIF participants reported consuming 5.26 less drinks per week than the participants in the AO group.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
University of Texas School of Public Health
Primary Contact
Scott T. Walters
University of North Texas Health Science Center
School of Public Health
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., EAD 709
Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699
(817) 735-2365
Scott.Walters@unthsc.edu
https://profile.hsc.unt.edu/profilesystem/viewprof...
University of North Texas Health Science Center
School of Public Health
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., EAD 709
Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699
(817) 735-2365
Scott.Walters@unthsc.edu
https://profile.hsc.unt.edu/profilesystem/viewprof...
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
University of Texas School of Public Health
Source
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Location
Dallas, TX
For more details
Target Audience
Teens, Adults, Women, Men
Submitted By
Namitha Malakkla, Anoop Muniyappa, Udani Kadurugamuwa - UC Berkeley School of Public Health