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Online Program

329304
Evaluating the Impact of a Targeted Alcohol Education Presentation on College Student's Attitudes and Behaviors


Sunday, November 1, 2015

Andrea M. Brace, PhD, CHES, Department of Health Science, Towson University, Towson, MD
Bobbi Finkelstein, BS, Occupational Therapy, Towson University, Towson, MD
Donna Cox, PhD, Health Science Department, Towson University, Towson, MD
Susan M. Radius, PhD, MCHES, Health Science Department, Towson University, Towson, MD
Patrick Herbert, PhD, CHES, Health Science, Towson University, Towson, MD
Background: Approximately 80% of college students drink alcohol, and half of those students binge drink.  Negative effects of college drinking are health complications, academic problems, injury, and death. Educational programming can increase student knowledge, and alter attitudes and beliefs about alcohol use.  Two speakers presented an innovative curriculum that detailed their experiences with alcohol-related car crashes.  The implications of alcohol-related crashed are presented from the perspective of a perpetrator and a victim.  One speaker plead guilty to vehicular homicide and served 8.5 years in prison.  The second speaker rode with a drunk driver and suffered a traumatic brain injury.  College students viewed the presentation either at a live event or a video recording. Hypothesis: Participation in the live presentation or watching the video will alter attitudes and behaviors related to drinking and driving.  Methods:  There were three treatment groups: 1) live presentation; 2) video; or 3) control.  Participants completed a questionnaire immediately after the presentation and 6-months later that assessed their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to alcohol use. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSSv.21 and open-ended questions were analyzed for common themes.  Results: 105 students completed both questionnaires (n=37 Control, n=31 Live, n=39 video).  81.3% of respondents were female and the mean age was 18.47 (SD 2.78).  Paired samples t-tests indicate that there were no differences in rates of drinking and driving or the average number of drinks consumed in the last 30 days from pre-test to post-test.  Designated driver use increased among intervention participants, however the results were not statistically significant. Most student’s (68.3%) rated the presentations positively, and 75.2% felt the “program helped me understand the consequences of drinking and driving.”  Conclusions:  Analysis were limited due to small sample size. Participants had positive ratings of the presentation, though participation did not have long-term impacts on alcohol behavior.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the impact of an alcohol education presentation Discuss the outcomes of the program on student’s attitudes and behaviors

Keyword(s): Alcohol Use, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a PhD in Health Promotion and Behavior. I have over 8 years experience in evaluation. I am faculty in Health Science at Towson University.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2055.0: College drinking: populations, social media, interventions, and outcomes