Evaluation of additional resources and stories in ICBT for alcohol misuse

Why was the study done?

Additional resources and stories are sometimes incorporated into ICBT for alcohol misuse to enhance treatment. Less is known about how patients use and evaluate these supplementary materials and how their use and evaluation relates to satisfaction and outcomes.

What was done in the study?

This study examined patient use and evaluation of 8 additional resources and 8 stories among patients who endorsed significant alcohol misuse and were enrolled in a 6-lesson ICBT course for alcohol misuse. The additional resources covered several topics relevant to alcohol misuse and stories varied by gender, ethnicity, occupation, and severity of alcohol problems. Primary drinking outcomes included the participants’ number of drinks per day and number of heavy drinking days, as well as secondary outcomes like depression, anxiety, and cravings.

What did we find out?

This study found that participants found resources informative and/or helpful to varying degrees, with 63% of participants accessing at least one resource. Reviewing the stories was more widespread, with 85% of participants indicating they read the stories, and 89% of those reviewers finding them worthwhile. Increased use and positive ratings was higher among stories than additional resources.

Where do we go from here?

These findings suggest that adding stories and resources to ICBT is acceptable and worthwhile. A significant number or patients reviewed these materials and found them informative and/or helpful.

The authors would like to thank members of the Patient-Oriented Research Steering Committee who contributed to all aspects of the research grant application, to revision of materials, to advertising, and to interpreting results.