'Drinking Less' - an online self-help intervention for problem drinkers in the general population

ISRCTN	ISRCTN47285230
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN47285230
Protocol serial number	NTR131
Sponsor	Trimbos Institute - Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction (Netherlands)
Funder	The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (Netherlands)

Submission date: 20/12/2005
Registration date: 20/12/2005
Last edited: 07/01/2021

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr H. Riper
Scientific

Trimbos-instituut
P.O. Box 725
Utrecht
3500 AS
Netherlands

Phone	+31 (0)30 297 1100
Email	hriper@trimbos.nl

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Randomised, active controlled, parallel group trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Scientific title	'Drinking Less' - an online self-help intervention for problem drinkers in the general population: results from an online randomised clinical trial
Study acronym	'Drinking Less'
Study objectives	We tested the hypothesis of the superior effectiveness of an online preventive self help intervention for problem drinkers based on cognitive-behavioural self control principles vis-à-vis an online psycho-education brochure for problem drinkers.
Ethics approval(s)	Ethics approval received from the local medical ethics committee
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Alcohol abuse, alcoholism
Intervention	The experimental condition received the 'Drinking Less' intervention. 'Drinking Less' is a web-based self help intervention for problem drinkers who want to reduce their alcohol consumption without any direct professional guidance. It is based on cognitive-behavioural self control principles. The program consists of four phases: 1. Preparation 2. Decision and goal setting 3. Conduct 4. Maintenance The intervention provides support to problem drinkers through techniques such as a monitoring log book, educational information and exercises. It also allows different participants to exchange information and experiences with one another through an internet forum. Participants are advised to use the intervention for a period of six weeks. The control group received access to a brief web-based alcohol information brochure in which the impact of alcohol on body, mind and functioning and the limits for safe alcohol consumption are discussed.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	1. Mean weekly alcohol consumption: number of units (10 g pure alcohol) in the past 7 days 2. Proportion of subjects not at-risk, i.e. drinking 21 units or less a week (men) and 14 units or less a week (women) 3. Proportion of subjects not drinking hazardously: i.e., not drinking more than 5 units (men) or 3 units (women) on any day a week in the past three months 4. Proportion of subjects not drinking at risk and/or hazardously (as defined under 2 and 3) 5. Proportion of subjects not drinking at risk and/or hazardously (as defined under 4) and who do not experience alcohol related problems
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	1. Quality of life 2. Psychological well being 3. Satisfaction with the interventions
Completion date	31/10/2004

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	268
Total final enrolment	261
Key inclusion criteria	Participants were eligible to participate if they were between 18 and 65 years of age, had a weekly alcohol consumption of more than 21 units (greater than or equal to 210 g - men) or more than 14 units (greater than or equal to 140 g - women) and or who were consuming more than 5 units of alcohol (greater than or equal to 50 g - men) or 3 units of alcohol (greater than or equal to 30 g - women) on one or more days a week in the past three months and who had access to a computer and internet.
Key exclusion criteria	1. Participants who received professional help 2. Participated in a self help group and/or medication for their drinking problems (last year) 3. Participated in a conflicting scientific study
Date of first enrolment	01/06/2003
Date of final enrolment	31/10/2004

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Netherlands

Study participating centre

Trimbos-instituut

Utrecht
3500 AS
Netherlands

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article	secondary analysis results	22/11/2008	07/01/2021	Yes	No

Editorial Notes

07/01/2021: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.