Effectiveness of a Self-help Guide During a Temporary Alcohol Abstinence Challenge: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Alcohol Alcohol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 May 27

PMID 38798161

Authors

Annelien Esselink

Andrea D Rozema

Nathalie Kools

Tim Van Den Berk

Rob H L M Bovens

Jolanda J P Mathijssen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The popularity of temporary abstinence challenges (TACs) concerning alcohol consumption is increasing. Support is found to be essential for participants to help them get through a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the additional effect of a self-help guide, based on health behaviour theories and behaviour change techniques, on (i) successful completion of a TAC and (ii) changes in drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE), behavioural automaticity, craving, and alcohol consumption.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed (OSF registries: OSF.IO/B95VU). NoThanks participants received a questionnaire before the TAC (T0) and 8 months after the TAC (T1). Out of a subgroup of 1308 respondents who were interested in additional support, 652 were randomly assigned to receive the guide (experimental group), and 656 did not receive any additional support (control group). Logistic regressions and (generalized) linear mixed model analyses were used.

Results: After 8 months, all participants showed a significant decrease in behavioural automaticity, craving, and alcohol consumption, irrespective of group assignment. No significant changes were observed in the DRSE. This degree of change over time in behavioural automaticity, craving, and alcohol consumption did not differ between the experimental and control group. Sensitivity analyses with participants in the experimental group, who differed in exposure to the guide, did not show differences either.

Conclusion: The self-help guide, and how it was designed, added no value to the TAC. Future research should focus on more bottom-up, customized support and explore what (different subgroups of) participants think they need as extra support during a TAC.

Citing Articles

Prevalence and characteristics of participants in 2024: findings from a general population survey in France.

Lespine L, Francois D, Haesebaert J, Delile J, Savy M, Tubiana-Rey B Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1466739.

PMID: 39687727 PMC: 11647028. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1466739.

References

Webb T, Joseph J, Yardley L, Michie S . Using the internet to promote health behavior change: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of theoretical basis, use of behavior change techniques, and mode of delivery on efficacy. J Med Internet Res. 2010; 12(1):e4. PMC: 2836773. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.1376. View

Fergie L, Campbell K, Coleman-Haynes T, Ussher M, Cooper S, Coleman T . Identifying Effective Behavior Change Techniques for Alcohol and Illicit Substance Use During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review. Ann Behav Med. 2018; 53(8):769-781. PMC: 6636888. DOI: 10.1093/abm/kay085. View

Brug J, Conner M, Harre N, Kremers S, McKellar S, Whitelaw S . The Transtheoretical Model and stages of change: a critique: observations by five commentators on the paper by Adams, J. and White, M. (2004) why don't stage-based activity promotion interventions work?. Health Educ Res. 2004; 20(2):244-58. DOI: 10.1093/her/cyh005. View

Riper H, Kramer J, Smit F, Conijn B, Schippers G, Cuijpers P . Web-based self-help for problem drinkers: a pragmatic randomized trial. Addiction. 2008; 103(2):218-27. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02063.x. View

Marshall S, Biddle S . The transtheoretical model of behavior change: a meta-analysis of applications to physical activity and exercise. Ann Behav Med. 2002; 23(4):229-46. DOI: 10.1207/S15324796ABM2304_2. View

de Visser R, Piper R . Short- and Longer-Term Benefits of Temporary Alcohol Abstinence During 'Dry January' Are Not Also Observed Among Adult Drinkers in the General Population: Prospective Cohort Study. Alcohol Alcohol. 2020; 55(4):433-438. DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa025. View

de Visser R, Nicholls J . Temporary abstinence during Dry January: predictors of success; impact on well-being and self-efficacy. Psychol Health. 2020; 35(11):1293-1305. DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1743840. View

White A, Kavanagh D, Stallman H, Klein B, Kay-Lambkin F, Proudfoot J . Online alcohol interventions: a systematic review. J Med Internet Res. 2010; 12(5):e62. PMC: 3057310. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.1479. View

Kavanagh D, Statham D, Feeney G, Young R, May J, Andrade J . Measurement of alcohol craving. Addict Behav. 2012; 38(2):1572-1584. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.08.004. View

10.

Gardner B, Abraham C, Lally P, de Bruijn G . Towards parsimony in habit measurement: testing the convergent and predictive validity of an automaticity subscale of the Self-Report Habit Index. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012; 9:102. PMC: 3552971. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-102. View

11.

Kummetat J, Leonhard A, Manthey J, Speerforck S, Schomerus G . Understanding the Association between Alcohol Stigma and Alcohol Consumption within Europe: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study. Eur Addict Res. 2022; 28(6):446-454. DOI: 10.1159/000526200. View

12.

Andrade A, Boerngen de Lacerda R, Gomide H, Ronzani T, Sartes L, Fernandes Martins L . Web-based self-help intervention reduces alcohol consumption in both heavy-drinking and dependent alcohol users: A pilot study. Addict Behav. 2016; 63:63-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.027. View

13.

Riper H, Hoogendoorn A, Cuijpers P, Karyotaki E, Boumparis N, Mira A . Effectiveness and treatment moderators of internet interventions for adult problem drinking: An individual patient data meta-analysis of 19 randomised controlled trials. PLoS Med. 2018; 15(12):e1002714. PMC: 6298657. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002714. View

14.

Coates J, Gullo M, Feeney G, Kavanagh D, Young R, Dingle G . The Mini Alcohol Craving Experience Questionnaire: Development and Clinical Application. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016; 41(1):156-164. DOI: 10.1111/acer.13278. View

15.

Fleming K, Bartholow B . Alcohol cues, approach bias, and inhibitory control: applying a dual process model of addiction to alcohol sensitivity. Psychol Addict Behav. 2013; 28(1):85-96. PMC: 3969400. DOI: 10.1037/a0031565. View

16.

Butters A, Kersbergen I, Holmes J, Field M . Temporary abstinence challenges: What do we need to know?. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2023; 42(5):1087-1091. PMC: 10947026. DOI: 10.1111/dar.13625. View

17.

Pados E, Kovacs A, Kiss D, Kassai S, Kapitany-Foveny M, David F . Voices of Temporary Sobriety - A Diary Study of an Alcohol-Free Month in Hungary. Subst Use Misuse. 2020; 55(5):839-850. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1705861. View

18.

Riper H, Blankers M, Hadiwijaya H, Cunningham J, Clarke S, Wiers R . Effectiveness of guided and unguided low-intensity internet interventions for adult alcohol misuse: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2014; 9(6):e99912. PMC: 4061051. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099912. View

19.

Jenzer T, Egerton G, Read J . Learning from drinking experiences in college: A test of reciprocal determinism with drinking refusal self-efficacy. Psychol Addict Behav. 2020; 35(1):85-92. PMC: 8171123. DOI: 10.1037/adb0000675. View

20.

Albery I, Collins I, Moss A, Frings D, Spada M . Habit predicts in-the-moment alcohol consumption. Addict Behav. 2014; 41:78-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.09.025. View