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COMPLETED
The effectiveness of an innovative Digital-Story intervention aimed at reducing binge drinking among young people
Funded by the Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC), Young People in Focus were commissioned to assess the effectiveness of a Digital-Story intervention to reduce the prevalence of young people’s binge drinking in Caerphilly, South Wales.
The Digital Stories (short videos made by young people) were followed by a workshop discussing some of the issues raised.
A quasi-experimental design was adopted with three intervention sites (who received the intervention) and one control site (who did not receive the intervention) providing the sample of mainly school children aged 14-15 years. Three rounds of self-completion questionnaires were completed, undertaken prior, immediately after, and six months after the intervention were issued.
In total 1031 questionnaires were completed across the three time-points. The analyses revealed a positive effect of the intervention on knowledge.
Also, the intervention group results showed stable attitudes towards drinking at the three time-points, whilst the control group showed increasing positive attitudes towards drunkenness over the same time period.
Intentions towards drunkenness were higher in the control group than the intervention group at T2. In terms of behaviour at the six month follow-up, intervention participants got drunk on fewer occasions in the last week compared to control participants.
A number of recommendations were made in relation to interventions to reduce binge drinking amongst young people. A short guide for organisations wishing to use Digital Storytelling was also produced – contact YPF’s publications department for further information.
More information:
For further information on this project please contact Debi Roker on 01273 647336 or droker@youngpeopleinfocus.org.uk
July 2009