TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of socioeconomic environment on the effectiveness of alcohol prevention among European students
T2 - A cluster randomized controlled trial
AU - Caria, Maria Paola
AU - Faggiano, Fabrizio
AU - Bellocco, Rino
AU - Galanti, Maria Rosaria
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge teachers and students who volunteered in this study and the members of the EU-Dap Study Group: Luca Cuomo, Serena Vadrucci, Federica Vigna-Taglianti, Laura Vitale, Barbara Zunino, Roberta Siliquini, Karl Bohrn, Peer van der Kreeft, Juan Carlos Melero, Oihana Rementeria, Laura Varona, Gudrum Wiborg; Clive Richardson, Maro Vassara, Charlotte Jansson, Sara Sanchez Del Mazo, Gregor Burkhart, Leila Fabiani, Maria Scatigna. This work was supported by the European Commission, European Public Health programme 2002 [grant number SPC 2002376]. Additional national funding was provided by: Compagnia di San Paolo [grant number 2002-0703] and Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori [grant number 2003 43/ 4] for the Novara centre, Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research [grant number 2002-0979], Stockholm County Council, Public Health [grant number LS 0401-0117] and Alcohol Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly [grant number 07-8:1] for the Swedish centre. RB was partially funded by the “Fondo Ateneo Ricerca”, 2010.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: Although social environments may influence alcohol-related behaviours in youth, the relationship between neighbourhood socioeconomic context and effectiveness of school-based prevention against underage drinking has been insufficiently investigated. We study whether the social environment affects the impact of a new school-based prevention programme on alcohol use among European students. Methods. During the school year 2004-2005, 7079 students 12-14 years of age from 143 schools in nine European centres participated in this cluster randomised controlled trial. Schools were randomly assigned to either control or a 12-session standardised curriculum based on the comprehensive social influence model. Randomisation was blocked within socioeconomic levels of the school environment. Alcohol use and alcohol-related problem behaviours were investigated through a self-completed anonymous questionnaire at baseline and 18 months thereafter. Data were analysed using multilevel models, separately by socioeconomic level. Results: At baseline, adolescents in schools of low socioeconomic level were more likely to report problem drinking than other students. Participation in the programme was associated in this group with a decreased odds of reporting episodes of drunkenness (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.44-0.83), intention to get drunk (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45-0.79), and marginally alcohol-related problem behaviours (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.46-1.06). No significant programme's effects emerged for students in schools of medium or high socioeconomic level. Effects on frequency of alcohol consumption were also stronger among students in disadvantaged schools, although the estimates did not attain statistical significance in any subgroup. Conclusions: It is plausible that comprehensive social influence programmes have a more favourable effect on problematic drinking among students in underprivileged social environments. Trial registration. ISRCTN: ISRCTN18092805.
AB - Background: Although social environments may influence alcohol-related behaviours in youth, the relationship between neighbourhood socioeconomic context and effectiveness of school-based prevention against underage drinking has been insufficiently investigated. We study whether the social environment affects the impact of a new school-based prevention programme on alcohol use among European students. Methods. During the school year 2004-2005, 7079 students 12-14 years of age from 143 schools in nine European centres participated in this cluster randomised controlled trial. Schools were randomly assigned to either control or a 12-session standardised curriculum based on the comprehensive social influence model. Randomisation was blocked within socioeconomic levels of the school environment. Alcohol use and alcohol-related problem behaviours were investigated through a self-completed anonymous questionnaire at baseline and 18 months thereafter. Data were analysed using multilevel models, separately by socioeconomic level. Results: At baseline, adolescents in schools of low socioeconomic level were more likely to report problem drinking than other students. Participation in the programme was associated in this group with a decreased odds of reporting episodes of drunkenness (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.44-0.83), intention to get drunk (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45-0.79), and marginally alcohol-related problem behaviours (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.46-1.06). No significant programme's effects emerged for students in schools of medium or high socioeconomic level. Effects on frequency of alcohol consumption were also stronger among students in disadvantaged schools, although the estimates did not attain statistical significance in any subgroup. Conclusions: It is plausible that comprehensive social influence programmes have a more favourable effect on problematic drinking among students in underprivileged social environments. Trial registration. ISRCTN: ISRCTN18092805.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955859136&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/1471-2458-11-312
DO - 10.1186/1471-2458-11-312
M3 - Article
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 11
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
M1 - 312
ER -
