Date of Award
5-9-2012
Degree Type
Evidence-Based Project Report
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Elise M. Alverson
Abstract
Alcohol consumption is a health concern on all college campuses in the United States. College students’ alcohol consumption is a highly prevalent behavior, with 44% reporting that they are consuming alcohol at the binge level or greater (Wechsler & Nelson, 2008). The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to answer the clinical question: In college freshmen, how does a multi-component intervention influence alcohol consumption over a four-month period? The Transtheoretical Model of Behavioral Change (TTM) and Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) were used to guide the project. Evidence demonstrates that implementing brief intervention, promoting substance-free events, and increasing campus alcohol policy awareness has achieved success in reducing alcohol consumption in college students. After gaining the support of key stakeholders at a private mid-western university, decisions were made to implement an EBP project to reduce alcohol consumption among full-time freshmen students. The multi-component intervention consisted of (a) attending an alcohol education orientation session, (b) receiving a normative feedback e-mail, (c) attending a residence hall “maintenance” session, and (d) receiving a “maintenance” e-mail regarding the promotion of alcohol-free events. Changes in outcomes were assessed through pre-project and post-project surveys. After data collection, paired t tests were performed to evaluate and determine the significance of the EBP project’s results. In conclusion, orientation and residence hall “maintenance” session positively influenced participants’ alcohol consumption. Additionally, self-identified drinkers had a significant increase in frequency of alcohol consumption and in levels of confidence and importance related to changing alcohol consumption. Future recommendations and implications are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Jelinek, Kimberley L., "A Multi-Component Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Consumption in College Freshmen" (2012). Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports. 24.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/ebpr/24
