Customizable online program to reduce alcohol-related harm in young adults
A user-customizable personalized normative feedback intervention for alcohol harm reduction in young adults: Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · NIH-11195606
An online program that lets young adults compare their drinking to personalized peer groups and receive feedback to help reduce alcohol-related harm.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SEATTLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11195606 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would use a web-based tool that shows how your drinking compares to peers you choose, such as first-year students, Hispanic students, or sexual minority groups. The team will design the site with input from users and then run a pilot where people receive the new program, usual care, or an attention-matched control. They will measure how acceptable and engaging the program is and look for early signs that it changes drinking behavior. The goal is to see whether letting users pick tailored peer groups makes the feedback more relevant and more likely to help.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young adults who currently drink alcohol—especially college students or others willing to try an online program to reduce their drinking—are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with severe alcohol dependence who need medical detox or intensive in-person treatment, or individuals who do not want to use online tools, may not benefit from this low-intensity program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could make feedback feel more relevant and engaging, helping young adults cut back on heavy drinking and avoid alcohol-related harms.
How similar studies have performed: Personalized normative feedback programs on college campuses have reduced drinking in past trials, but offering many user-selected, subgroup-specific feedback options is a newer approach with limited prior testing.
Where this research is happening
SEATTLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON — SEATTLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LARIMER, MARY E. — UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- Study coordinator: LARIMER, MARY E.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.