Can stand-alone computer-based interventions reduce alcohol consumption? A systematic review

ABSTRACT Aim  To determine the effects of computer‐based interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in adult populations. Methods  The review was undertaken following standard Cochrane and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidance for systematic re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Addiction (Abingdon, England) Vol. 106; no. 2; pp. 267 - 282
Main Authors: Khadjesari, Zarnie, Murray, Elizabeth, Hewitt, Catherine, Hartley, Suzanne, Godfrey, Christine
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2011
Blackwell
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects
Alcohol Drinking - prevention & control
Alcohol use
Alcoholic Beverages - statistics & numerical data
Analysis
Bias
Biological and medical sciences
computer-based intervention
Computers
Consumption
Data
Data Interpretation, Statistical
Drinking behavior
Drug addiction
Ethanol - poisoning
Evaluation
Extraction
Female
Groups
Humans
Intervention
Literature reviews
Male
Measures
Medical sciences
Meta-analysis
Miscellaneous
Programmed instruction
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychotherapy, Brief - methods
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Research Design
Sensitivity analysis
Students
Students - psychology
Students - statistics & numerical data
Systematic review
Therapy, Computer-Assisted
Treatment Outcome
Writers
Consumption
Human
Drug addiction
Evidence-based practice
computer-based intervention
meta-analysis
Systematic review
Review
Evidence-based medicine
Metaanalysis
Alcohol consumption
Alcoholic beverage
Addiction
Computer aid
Bibliographic review
ISSN:0965-2140, 1360-0443, 1360-0443
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:ABSTRACT Aim  To determine the effects of computer‐based interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption in adult populations. Methods  The review was undertaken following standard Cochrane and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidance for systematic reviews. The literature was searched until December 2008, with no restrictions on language. Randomized trials with parallel comparator groups were identified in the form of published and unpublished data. Two authors independently screened s and papers for inclusion. Data extraction and bias assessment was undertaken by one author and checked by a second author. Studies that measured total alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking episodes were eligible for inclusion in meta‐analyses. A random‐effects model was used to pool mean differences. Results  Twenty‐four studies were included in the review (19 combined in meta‐analyses). The meta‐analyses suggested that computer‐based interventions were more effective than minimally active comparator groups (e.g. assessment‐only) at reducing alcohol consumed per week in student and non‐student populations. However, most studies used the mean to summarize skewed data, which could be misleading in small samples. A sensitivity analysis of those studies that used suitable measures of central tendency found that there was no difference between intervention and minimally active comparator groups in alcohol consumed per week by students. Few studies investigated non‐student populations or compared interventions with active comparator groups. Conclusion  Computer‐based interventions may reduce alcohol consumption compared with assessment‐only; the conclusion remains tentative because of methodological weaknesses in the studies. Future research should consider that the distribution of alcohol consumption data is likely to be skewed and that appropriate measures of central tendency are reported.
Bibliography:istex:121A965EAC09B193E0899A59623734F84FA5B60E
ArticleID:ADD3214
ark:/67375/WNG-RNRNX96F-S
Conflict of Interest: None.
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ISSN:0965-2140
1360-0443
1360-0443
DOI:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03214.x