Aim
To estimate the long‐term efficacy of an internet‐based brief intervention (IBI) in decreasing alcohol use among men on (1) number of drinks/week and (2) monthly or more binge drinking prevalence. In addition, overall changes in alcohol use were assessed.
Design
Participants in a cohort study were recruited in a two parallel‐group randomized controlled trial of an IBI versus no‐intervention control condition, showing a positive intervention effect at 6 months. As part of the regular cohort assessments, participants were re‐assessed 47 months after the initial trial, offering an opportunity to determine long‐term efficacy.
Setting
Young Swiss men from the general population.
Participants
Of 737 randomized trial participants with unhealthy alcohol use (> 14 drinks/week or ≥ 6 drinks/occasion at least monthly, or Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) ≥ 8), 626 completed a cohort assessment at mean ± standard deviation (SD) = 47.4 ± 2.6) months after their randomized trial baseline assessment.
Intervention
IBI included normative and personalized feedback on alcohol use, risk indicators, information about alcohol and health and recommendations; controls: assessment only.
Measurements
Self‐reported number of drinks/week and monthly or more binge drinking prevalence.
Findings
Comparisons at follow‐up were adjusted for baseline drinking. Missing values were replaced with the last observation carried forward. There was no evidence of differences between the IBI and control group on either the number of drinks/week [IBI: 10.8 (14.2); control: 10.7 (14.1), P = 0.8] or monthly or more binge drinking prevalence (IBI: 65.1%; control: 63.5%, P = 0.5). Although there was no evidence of overall change from baseline in number of drinks/week [9.8 (7.9) at baseline, 10.8 (14.1) at 47 months, P = 0.051], there was evidence that monthly or more binge drinking prevalence had decreased during the follow‐up time (84.9% at baseline, 64.3% at 47 months, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
An internet‐based brief intervention directed at unhealthy alcohol use among young men does not appear to reduce drinking over the long‐term.