A new study performed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh indicates that texting high risk alcohol users may cut down on their drinking. The research consisted of 45 participants, 21 men and 24 women, between the ages of 18-to-24 who were identified as hazardous drinkers. The young adults were each randomly assigned for a 12-week period to one of two groups. One group got weekly text messaging feedback with goal setting and drinking assessments and the others were placed in the Control group.
The texting group received a series of standard, automated text-message questions each week asking about the frequency of their drinking and how much alcohol they had consumed. Men who said they had more than five drinks during any 24-hour period and women who reported more than four would receive a text message expressing concern about their drinking and ask them about reducing their drinking for the week. Those who agreed would receive positive reinforcement messages and advice for reducing their drinking. If a participant declined the advice they would be sent a text requesting them to reflect on that decision.
The results of the research showed that young adults will interact with an automated text messaging system that provides weekly drinking reports. They also easily responded to the goal setting challenges provided them. At the end of a three month period the participants in the group that had text message intervention spent 3.4 fewer days engaged in heavy drinking and had 2.1 fewer drinks on the days they did. Offering immediate feedback seemed to reduce both the number of drinks they had and the number of binge drinking episodes.
Researchers speculated the frequency of the text messages might have raised the awareness of the group’s alcohol use and improved the accuracy of their response. The study took place in August and since most of the participants were college students researchers felt it was likely those involved in the study increased their drinking when they returned to school.
The results of the study have some researchers believing that if the texting model of drinking data collection is converted into a large sample, the result could reduce hazardous drinking on a national scale.
Source
www.psychentral.com