An Evaluation of e-CHECKUP TO GO in Canada: The Mediating Role of Changes in Social Norm Misperceptions

ABSTRACT

Background: Alcohol use and related problems are key concerns among colleges, and web-based interventions to mitigate these issues are increasingly popular across campuses. A variety of programs are commercially available and have demonstrated efficacy in reducing alcohol use and consequences; however, little is known about how these programs reduce alcohol outcomes. Objectives: The e-CHECKUP TO GO program (e-CHUG) is the briefest electronic intervention available and over 600 institutions are using it internationally. The present study evaluates the impact of the e-CHUG program on drinking outcomes and examines changes in perceived norms as a potential mediator of intervention efficacy in a sample of first-year Canadian university residence students. This is the first Canadian evaluation of e-CHUG. Methods: First year Canadian university students (N = 245) living in residence in August 2014 participated in a randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of e-CHUG program compared to an assessment-only control condition. Follow-up assessments were completed at 3-months and 5-months. Norm misperceptions and drinking outcomes were measured. Results: At 3-month and 5-month follow-up assessments program participants had lower norm misperceptions about peers drinking compared to control participants. Changes in norm misperceptions at 3-months mediated the effect of the program on drinking outcomes at 5-months. There were no sex differences in the associations. Conclusions/Importance: Findings suggest that e-CHECKUP TO GO may be a promising strategy for addressing norm misperceptions and subsequently drinking for Canadian students.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use
• college
• social norms
• personalized normative feedback
• intervention

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted as part of the Changing the Culture of Substance Use on Campus (CCSU) project. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Kathryn MacLeod, Director of Residence Services who facilitated access to the participants of this study, as well as the rest of the CCSU team for their input and support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.