Online intervention to help veterans with heavy drinking
Preventing Alcohol Misuse Among Young Adult Veterans Through Brief Online Intervention
This study is testing a new online program to see if it can help veterans who drink heavily to start seeking help and change their drinking habits.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 800 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rand Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT04244461 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This intervention aims to test the effectiveness of a brief, web-based personalized normative feedback (PNF) program designed for veterans who have recently separated from military service and are experiencing heavy drinking. The study will build a database of drinking norms among young veterans and evaluate how the PNF intervention can encourage these individuals to seek behavioral health treatment. By focusing on veterans who have not sought treatment in the past six months, the study seeks to address a difficult-to-reach population and assess the impact of tailored feedback on treatment initiation and drinking behaviors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are veterans aged 18 to 40 who have recently separated from military service and exhibit hazardous drinking behaviors.
Not a fit: Patients who are currently receiving treatment for alcohol use or other mental health concerns may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce alcohol misuse and improve mental health outcomes among veterans.
How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot studies have shown success with similar personalized feedback approaches in addressing alcohol misuse among veterans.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Veterans aged 18 to 40 who has separated/discharged from military service from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, or Navy * Not currently affiliated with active duty service or in the reserves or guard units * Able to read English (also a requirement of military service) * Access to a computer, Internet, and personal email address * No appointments in the past six months and no pending appointments with a mental health professional or medical doctor for treatment of concerns related to alcohol use, other substance use, PTSD, depression, or other mental health concerns * AUDIT-C scores of 3 or higher (for females) or 4 or higher (for males), which represents a sex-specific positive screen for hazardous and harmful alcohol use, as well as a possible AUD in civilian and military samples * Separation from the military within the past 5 years. Exclusion Criteria: * None besides not meeting eligibility criteria
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Eric Pedersen, Ph.D.
- Email: ericp@rand.org
- Phone: 3103930411
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.