Citation

Werch CE, Anzalone DM, Brokiewicz LM, Felker J, Carlson JM, Castellon-Vogel EA. Arch. Family Med. 1996; 5(3): 146-152.

Affiliation

Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Health Promotion, College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, American Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8620255

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a brief, school-based intervention for preventing alcohol use. DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized, control trial assigning inner-city public school students to an intervention program or a comparison program. PARTICIPANTS: Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in Jacksonville, Fla (N=104). INTERVENTIONS: Students assigned to the intervention program were given a self-instructional module and corresponding audiotape, a health consultation with a physician or nurse, and a follow-up consultation with a trained peer health model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Alcohol consumption during the month after the intervention and students' assessments of the interventions were measured. RESULTS: Students' t tests showed participants were more satisfied with physician or nurse consultations than with peer consultations or the self-instructional module and audiotapes (P=.05). Analysis of covariance tests showed significant main effects for 30-day quantity of alcohol use (F=5.15, P=.02), with intervention students reporting less alcohol consumption at follow-up than comparison students, and for 30-day frequency of alcohol use (F=5.92,P=.01) with intervention students again showing less frequent use at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent, school-based intervention using print and audiotape media, brief physician or nurse consultations, and follow-up peer contacts holds promise in altering short-term alcohol use and selected behavioral factors among inner-city youth.

Language: en