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; (3–5) 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 (6–8) 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