A comparison of personalized feedback for college student drinkers delivered with and without a motivational interview

J Stud Alcohol. 2004 Mar;65(2):200-3. doi: 10.15288/jsa.2004.65.200.

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the relative efficacy of personalized drinking feedback (PDF) delivered with and without a motivational interview (MI) for college student drinkers.

Method: Heavy-drinking college students (N = 54; 691% female) were identified from a large screening sample and randomly assigned either to receive PDF during a single MI session or to receive PDF without an MI. Of these participants, 51 (94%) completed a 6-month follow-up assessment that included measures of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems.

Results: At 6-months postintervention, participants in both groups showed significant, small to moderate reductions in alcohol consumption, but the groups did not differ. Women showed larger reductions than men. Rates of alcohol-related problems remained relatively unchanged.

Conclusions: The hypothesis that an MI would enhance the efficacy of PDF was not supported.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
  • Feedback*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic*
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Motivation*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities