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.

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