The most common substance to be misused among college students is alcohol. Heavy alcohol use is recognized as a part of many social events on college campuses; over 70% of college students report consuming alcohol. This qualitative study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a computer-delivered intervention (CDI) about alcohol use from the point of view of college students. For this study, students’ opinions on factors that influence alcohol use, and the delivery, content, and measurement of a CDI were essential to the process.  

 Due to their interactive approach, in-depth focus group interviews were used for data collection. Demographic data such as year in school, gender, identity, race, and first-generation student status were collected. All participants were students enrolled at a public Midwestern University during the 2018-2019 school year. Students were all at least 18 years of age, registered in the university’s undergraduate program, and attended at least five other participants focus group sessions. After completing parts of the AlcoholEdu program, students attend these sessions to share their thoughts and experiences with the online program. Primary authors conducted the focus groups alongside a co-facilitator who took notes and managed the recording. All sessions lasted roughly one hour. 

This study showed that students reported gaining valuable information about the standard size of drinks from Alcohol Edu, students across studies voiced a need for more authenticity and connection to the videos in Alcohol Edu, and participants consistently expressed frustration about the length and repetition of content. This shows that multiple approaches geared towards a wide variety of diverse students are needed to be successful in alcohol misuse prevention. 

Takeaway: This study showed the importance of preventing alcohol misuse programs. They need to have multiple approaches to be successful and for students to get the most out of the programs. 

Taylor, P. H., Henry, B. W., Howell, S. M., Smith, T. J., Milano, K., & Hodges, T. (2023). Students’ Perceptions on the Effectiveness of a Computer-Delivered Alcohol Intervention. Journal of Drug Education, 52(3-4), 63-77. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.1177/00472379231217834