E-health app to reduce binge drinking among adolescents and young adults: the D-ARIANNA Project: Alessandro Schivalocchi

Background

Binge drinking (BD) is a common and hazardous pattern of alcohol consumption especially among adolescents and young adults. Although heavy episodic drinking has severe consequences, youngsters often do not recognize it as problematic. E-health interventions have given evidences to be useful in reducing alcohol misuse among young people (Paschall et al., 2011). This study aims at testing if a risk estimation model for BD embedded in an e-health app can improve decision making related to this behaviour. The name chosen for our app, which is also the name of the whole project, is D-ARIANNA, acronym that stands for Digital Alcohol RIsk Alertness Notifying Network for Adolescents.

Methods

Literature was searched for evidence about risk factors for BD. Identified risk and protective factors have been used to develop a statistical model estimating current risk for BD. Risk measures (odds ratios) were so collected and pooled and the model was finally integrated in an application for smartphones and tablets. The tool was tested among young adults and data about previous and subsequent BD episodes were collected.

Results

Analyses show that our tool, now available for download on App Store and Google Play, is effective in reducing BD episodes and increasing self-awareness about the negative consequences of BD. In fact, young people who self-administered D-ARIANNA reported reduced BD rates at follow up (37% vs. 18%).

Conclusions

Our data agree with the positive impact that e-health technologies have on young people. Easily available e-health technologies may be useful for health interventions for individuals of young age.

References: Paschall MJ, Tamar A, Christopher LR, Robert FS (2011). Evaluation of an Internet-based alcohol misuse prevention course for college freshmen. Findings of a randomized multi-campus trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 41(3): 300–308.

Key messages

• Our e-health app can really contribute to reduce BD which is a dangerous pattern of alcohol consumption having drawbacks on the development of young people’s CNS (cognitive and behavioural functions)

• Our tool is versatile: since innovative, it is attractive and useful for youngsters (more exposed to BD); being preventive and Evidence-Based, it is worthwhile for parents and physicians at large