%0 Journal Article
%T Delivering normative feedback to heavy drinking college students via text messaging: a pilot feasibility study
%J Addictive behaviors
%D 2018
%A Merrill, Jennifer E.
%A Boyle, Holly K.
%A Barnett, Nancy P.
%A Carey, Kate B.
%V 83
%N 
%P 175-181
%X Correcting misperceptions in drinking norms is an established method of reducing college student drinking; however, delivery of accurate norms has typically been limited to a single dose within the confines of an alcohol intervention. The present study tests the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of using text messages to promote pro-moderation descriptive and injunctive norms. Following a baseline survey, 68 heavy drinking college students were randomly assigned to receive 28 daily messages with either accurate norms information (experimental group, n=34) or fun facts (control group, n=34). Participants rated each message on a 5-point scale of interest, and at the end of the 28days completed a follow-up assessment of normative perceptions and drinking behavior. The study protocol was feasible: 87% of invited students completed the screener, 64% of eligible students completed the consent form, and 93% agreed to participate. All messages were delivered and 98% were rated. Regarding acceptability, the mean interest rating for the alcohol-related text messages was 2.84 (SD=1.30), and no participants withdrew from the study. Although between-group differences were not observed at follow-up, participants in the experimental group showed significant reductions between baseline and follow-up on peak drinks, frequency of heavy episodic drinking (HED), negative consequences, and injunctive norms (ps<0.01). <br><br>RESULTS lay the groundwork for development of a text-based prevention strategy for use in college settings.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0306-4603
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.003