Astrid Franziska Jander*, Maastricht University / CAPHRI, Maastricht, Netherlands Daniela Nadine Schulz, Maastricht University / CAPHRI, Maastricht, Netherlands Stef Petrus Jacobus Kremers, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Dominique Reinwand, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands Hein De Vries*, Maastricht University / CAPHRI, Maastricht, Netherlands Track: Research Presentation Topic: Public (e-)health, population health technologies, surveillance Presentation Type: Poster presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Last modified: 2012-09-12

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Background: Web-based tailored interventions provide information that is adapted to the characteristics and needs of the individual in order to give personally appropriate advice. Studies demonstrated that this method is effective and cost-effective to stimulate health behaviors. Yet, RCTs assessing the effects of tailored alcohol self-help programs are limited. Furthermore, Internet-based programs may have the potential to reach large numbers of people, but also suffer from high attrition rates. A challenge is to develop interactive programs that can maintain respondents’ attention in online interventions.

Objective: The first objective is to assess whether a multi-session, web-based tailored alcohol intervention will reduce alcohol intake in unhealthy drinkers. The second objective is to compare two computer tailored feedback strategies (alternating versus summative) on program evaluation, drop-out and effects. The third objective is to assess potential differences of the program among subgroups such as SES, gender, and age.

Methods: A RCT was conducted, with two experimental groups and one control group with follow-ups at three and six months. Drinking behavior, motivational determinants (i.e., knowledge, attitude, social influence, self-efficacy, preparatory plans, coping plans and motivational stage), and demographics were assessed among participants who were recruited via an online access panel. The intervention was conducted in Germany in 2010-2011. The first experimental group alternated questions with advice per motivational determinant resulting in several advice sections. The second experimental group provided one large overall advice was given at the end of the program. The hypothesis was that the first condition would be appreciated more and would result in less drop-out.

Results: In total, 451 respondents were included in the analyses. Subgroup effects were found for respondents who reported having many people in their environment with unhealthy drinking behavior. They benefited more from the intervention than people with more healthy drinking people in their environment. There were no differences in intervention effects between the two intervention groups, however, regarding process evaluation, significant differences were found. The intervention alternating questions and advice was evaluated more positively than the other experimental condition. Further, drop-out rate of the intervention was significantly lower in the alternated group at baseline compared to the other group. These findings are in line with our hypothesis. Yet, differences regarding evaluation and attrition disappeared at 6 month follow up.

Conclusions: Tailored feedback delivered via Internet can be an effective way to reduce alcohol intake among adults. Furthermore, there is no indication that one of the tailoring strategies works better for behavior change in eHealth programs. Yet, more positive process evaluation and lower attrition rates seem to make the version of the intervention with alternated questions and advice more recommendable.