Article
Details
Citation
Pettigrew S, Booth L, Jongenelis MI, Brennan E, Chikritzhs T, Hasking P, Miller P, Hastings G & Wakefield M (2021) A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of combinations of 'why to reduce' and 'how to reduce' alcohol harm-reduction communications. Addictive Behaviors, 121, Art. No.: 107004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107004
Abstract
Introduction
Alcohol is a major source of harm worldwide. The aim of this study was to experimentally assess the effects of exposing Australian adult drinkers to combinations of ¡®why to reduce¡¯ and ¡®how to reduce¡¯ alcohol harm-reduction messages.
Methods
Three online surveys were administered over six weeks: Time 1 at baseline (n = 7,995), Time 2 at three weeks post-baseline (n = 4,588), and Time 3 at six weeks post-baseline (n = 2,687). Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions: (1) a control condition; (2) a ¡®why to reduce¡¯ television advertisement; (3¨C5) one of three ¡®how to reduce¡¯ messages referring to the following protective behavioral strategies (PBSs): Keep count of your drinks, Decide how many drinks and stick to it, It¡¯s okay to say no; and (6¨C8) the television advertisement combined with each PBS message individually. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted to determine effects of condition assignment on changes over time in attempts to reduce alcohol consumption and amount of alcohol consumed.
Results
Participants assigned to the ¡®TV ad¡¯ and ¡®TV ad + Keep count of your drinks PBS¡¯ conditions reported significant increases in attempts to reduce alcohol consumption. Only participants assigned to the ¡®TV ad + Keep count of your drinks PBS¡¯ condition exhibited a significant reduction in alcohol consumed (?0.87 drinks per person per week).
Conclusions
Well-executed ¡®why to reduce¡¯ alcohol harm-reduction advertisements can encourage drinkers to attempt to reduce their alcohol consumption. These ads may be effectively supplemented by specific ¡®how to reduce¡¯ messages designed to encourage drinkers to monitor their intake.
Keywords
Alcohol; Harm reduction; Television advertising; Social marketing; Protective behavioral strategies
Journal
Addictive Behaviors: Volume 121
Status | Published |
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Funders | |
Publication date | 31/10/2021 |
Publication date online | 03/06/2021 |
Date accepted by journal | 31/05/2021 |
URL | |
Publisher | Elsevier BV |
ISSN | 0306-4603 |
People (1)
Emeritus Professor, Institute for Social Marketing