Attitudes of College Aged Students to Technology Based Alcohol Intervention

Almost half of U.S. college students binge drink. Compared to traditional mediums, technology presents an opportunity to investigate automatic monitoring and passive analysis to provide in-the-moment intervention. This project’s objective was learning about the opinions of college aged students to specific technologies that can be used to monitor and control binge drinking. Focus groups and a survey highlighted the concerns of accuracy, ease of use, and relevance to the target audience as key features in a device for this purpose

Alcohol Clin Exp Res

Background:Although alcohol breath testing devices that pair with smartphones are promoted for the prevention of alcohol-impaired driving, their accuracy has not been established.Methods:In a within-subjects laboratory study, we administered weight-based doses of ethanol to two groups of 10 healthy, moderate drinkers aiming to achieve a target peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10%. We obtained a peak phlebotomy BAC and measured breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) with a police-grade device (Intoxilyzer 240) and two randomly ordered series of three consumer smartphone-paired devices (six total devices) with measurements every 20 minutes until the BrAC reached 0.01%, though the BACtrack Mobile Pro and police-grade device were consistently more accurate than the Drinkmate and Evoc. Compared with the police-grade device measurements, the BACtrack Mobile Pro readings were consistently higher, the BACtrack Vio and Alcohoot measurements similar, and the Floome, Drinkmake, and Evoc consistently lower. The BACtrack Mobile Pro and Alcohoot were most sensitive in detecting BAC driving-limit thresholds, while the Drinkmate and Evoc devices failed to detect BAC limit thresholds more than 50% of the time relative to the police-grade device.Conclusions:The accuracy of smartphone-paired devices varied widely in this laboratory study of healthy participants. Although some devices are suitable for clinical and research purposes, others underestimated BAC, creating the potential to mislead intoxicated users to think that they are fit to drive.UL1 TR001878/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/K23HD090272001/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/R49 CE002474/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/UL1TR001878/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/K23 HD090272/HD/NICHD NIH HHSUnited States/R49CE002474/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/R49CE002474/ACL/ACL HHSUnited States/2022-08-08T00:00:00Z33966283PMC935943711743vault:4311

Smartphone Gait Inference

An Android smartphone app was developed to determine alcohol intoxication levels based on a user’s gait. It uses the phone\u27s accelerometer to detect differences in gait associated with varying alcohol ingestion levels. Signal analysis found features in the time and frequency domain indicative of intoxication levels. Machine learning methods were employed with these features, trained on data from subjects, and compared by performance on a validation set. The Random Forest method was the best classifier with a success rate of 56% on the training set and 70% on the validation set. The app was distributed for user testing and included the model to be trained with the user’s new data. Accuracy improved overall with the users to 57%. As the app is used more, the accuracy is expected to increase

The function of context, influence and intuition in solving problems of leadership.

The purpose of the study was to determine if training novice leaders to identify context, influence and intuition embedded in a real life problem-solving narrative as affecting the explicitness they used in describing how they would solve a problem of practice. It was hypothesized that novice leaders who received training would provide more explicit explanations of how they would solve a problem of practice. Research suggests that learning how to identify context, influence, and intuition cues in narratives of leadership practice may enable pre-service leaders to increase the explicitness of their explanation of the process they use to solve problems of practice. Skills, cognitive, and psychodynamic theories of leadership development are used as the theoretical basis for the research. Educators working for the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) were randomly assigned to groups that received a pre-test scenario, post-test scenario, training to identify context, influence and intuition or a combination of all three. No significant differences were found between the four groups. The differences between the group that received only training and the post-test scenario and the other groups were in the direction suggested by cognitive and psychodynamic leadership theory. Although not statistically significant the observation that the description of the solution for the treatment group not receiving the pre-test was more detailed than the solution description for the treatment group that received both the pre-test and the post-test suggests the pre-test may have had a dampening effect on the post-test solution. Conclusions about the impact of minimal training on explanation explicitness and the dampening effect of the pre-test scenario are discussed within the framework of Howard Gardner's concept of the "unschooled mind" (1991). Recommendations are made for replicating the study with public sector educators and the use of the procedures as a way of providing pre-service leaders problem-solving experience

Mobile Delivery of Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders: A Review of the Literature

Several systems for treating alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) exist that operate on mobile phones. These systems are categorized into four groups: text-messaging monitoring and reminder systems, text-messaging intervention systems, comprehensive recovery management systems, and game-based systems. Text-messaging monitoring and reminder systems deliver reminders and prompt reporting of alcohol consumption, enabling continuous monitoring of alcohol use. Text-messaging intervention systems additionally deliver text messages designed to promote abstinence and recovery. Comprehensive recovery management systems use the capabilities of smart-phones to provide a variety of tools and services that can be tailored to individuals, including in-the-moment assessments and access to peer discussion groups. Game-based systems engage the user using video games. Although many commercial applications for treatment of AUDs exist, few (if any) have empirical evidence of effectiveness. The available evidence suggests that although texting-based applications may have beneficial effects, they are probably insufficient as interventions for AUDs. Comprehensive recovery management systems have the strongest theoretical base and have yielded the strongest and longest-lasting effects, but challenges remain, including cost, understanding which features account for effects, and keeping up with technological advances

Development and Implementation of a Standardized Protocol for Nurse Practitioners Working in an AUD Treatment Telehealth Program

Background Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a major public health concern in the United States. Ria Health is a growing telehealth provider delivering AUD treatment through pharmacotherapy combined with behavioral health counseling. Local Problem Ria Health employs six California licensed nurse practitioners, but two of them have not yet met all the California provisions to practice independently without protocols. Ria Health has not put any standardized protocols in place. Methods This DNP project involved the creation of an evidence-based standardized protocol for AUD. The Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning questionnaire was disseminated to participating nurse practitioners to measure student satisfaction and self-confidence in learning. Intervention Because the nursing curriculum for most nurse practitioners does not include addiction medicine, the implementation of a standardized protocol is likely to improve quality significantly by setting high standards of care through evidence-based practices. Results The standardized protocol was successfully implemented for only one out of two nurse practitioners not already authorized to practice independently. One, who helped edit the protocol, joined in its implementation. The other was dissatisfied with the orientation, did not find the protocol helpful, and declined to participate in its implementation. Conclusion Standardized protocols are the legal authority for the nurse practitioner to exceed the usual scope of practice from a registered nurse. Involvement in drafting the standard protocol may affect the willingness of participants to implement it. This DNP project may also benefit other AUD programs which may not have standardized protocols in place

Effect and Time Course of Acute Red Wine Consumption on Blood Antioxidant Capacity and Arterial Distensibility in Male Smokers

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Smoking cigarettes leads to oxidative stress and is harmful to endothelial function. Antioxidants found in red wine have been shown to counteract the negative effects of reactive oxygen species. METHODS: The current study investigated antioxidant capacity and vascular performance after smoking cigarettes and consuming wine. Participants included eight male smokers who attended an orientation where baseline anthropometric measures were obtained. Participants were assigned to the wine or control group in a randomized crossover design. The wine group consumed wine immediately following baseline measures of arterial distensibility and providing blood samples. Smoking occurred 15 and 120 minutes following wine consumption. Arterial distensibility measures and blood samples were again collected at these two time points. Controls followed the same procedure but did not consume wine. Outcome variables included plasma antioxidant capacity (FRAP, ORAC) and vascular measures (arterial distensibility). RESULTS: When given wine, the participants’ antioxidant capacity increased in FRAP (P=0.046) but not ORAC. Vascular measures showed a significant difference at time 3 (P=0.030). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest drinking red wine while smoking cigarettes increases antioxidant capacity but does not provide health benefits related to vascular performance

A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Mobile-Delivered Alcohol-Impaired Driving Brief Intervention with College Students

Alcohol-Impaired Driving (AI-Driving) among college students remains a significant public health concern. Counselor delivered and web based Brief Alcohol Interventions (BAIs) have been shown to reduce AI-driving among college students, but to date no study has selected students on the basis of recent AI-driving and evaluated the efficacy of a mobile-based BAI specific to AI-driving. The present study examined whether a mobile-based, AI-diriving specific BAI would significantly decrease AI-driving among college students compared to an informational control. Participants were 82 college students who endorsed driving after drinking two or more drinks at least twice in the past three months. After completing baseline measure, participants were randomly assigned to receive either: a) alcohol information or b) an AI-driving specific personalized feedback intervention. Participants in the personalized feedback condition received a personalized feedback document via text containing personalized feedback related to alcohol use and AI-driving. Students randomized to the information condition received standard information about alcohol and AI-driving via a link to a secure website included in text message and/or email. Participants completed outcome measures at three-month follow-up. Repeated measures mixed modeling analyses revealed that students receiving the AI-driving interventions reported significantly greater reductions in driving after drinking than students in the information condition at three-month follow-up. However, differential group differences were not found for estimated BAC prior to driving and alcohol use as both groups reduced on these outcomes at three-month follow-up. The findings of this study provide preliminary support for the efficacy of a mobile-based brief intervention for reducing alcohol-impaired driving among college students

Levels of alcohol intoxication : an assessment of perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, practices and breath alcohol levels

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Throughout the world drunk drivers are responsible for numerous accidents resulting in the injury or death of many drivers, passengers, cyclists, and/or pedestrians. South Africa experiences very high rates of injuries and deaths from road accidents. Young people, especially students and their peers, represent a high risk group because of their inexperience on the roads, and the exacerbation of this risk when alcohol limits are exceeded. In order to determine students’ and their peers’ perceptions and cognisance of their degree of intoxication, and to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices, survey data and measures of breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) were collected from 229 young adults over nine evenings at a single pub frequented by students and their peers in a South African university city

Effects of Peritraumatic Alcohol Intoxication on Intrusive Memories Following Exposure to an Analog Trauma

Intrusive memories and associated symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) represent a significant public health problem, often leading to persistent physical and psychological difficulties experienced by victims long after the traumatic event, contributing to healthcare costs and loss of productivity. Research examining etiological factors that contribute to PTSD is needed in order to expand basic knowledge and to inform the development of prevention and intervention strategies. Although acute alcohol intoxication has the potential to impact established risk factors for the development of intrusive memories (e.g., via stress response, cognitive processing), and trauma—particularly sexual assault—often occurs under the influence of alcohol, the influence of peritraumatic (i.e., at the time of assault) alcohol intoxication on post-assault trauma symptoms is not well understood. To address this issue, the current study utilized an experimental design, including lab-based alcohol administration (high dose of .72 g/kg, low dose of .36 g/kg, and a placebo beverage), a well-accepted analog trauma exposure paradigm (a film with distressing or “traumatic” content), and ecological momentary assessment of intrusive memories. Results from 98 community women (ages 21 to 30, without a personal history of victimization) revealed peritraumatic intoxication did impact the occurrence of intrusive memories. Specifically, a marginally significant indirect effect showed that alcohol myopia disrupted cognitive processing and formation of trauma memories, resulting in increased intrusive memories at high levels of intoxication. At the same time, those who consumed high or low doses of alcohol displayed a dampened stress response, which reduced intrusive memories. Findings highlight the influence of peritraumatic cognitive impairment and stress response on the development of intrusive memories. Though alcohol influenced these risk factors simultaneously and in opposite directions, overall, participants in the high dose condition reported more intrusive memories than those in the placebo and low dose conditions. These findings reflect the importance of prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing alcohol-involved victimization. Adviser: David DiLill