Research Articles

Alcohol prevention research for college students has resulted in numerous efficacious approaches, but the timeline from development to implementation is long. The College Alcohol Intervention Matrix (CollegeAIM) is a dissemination and implementation tool developed in 2015 and updated in 2019 to aid in the selection of evidence-based alcohol prevention strategies for higher education settings. The present study is the first to examine the use and perceptions of the CollegeAIM tool. Student affairs professionals (N=142) across 23 campuses in a statewide prevention coalition participated in a survey examining CollegeAIM with a focus on implementation outcomes and areas for actionable change. Campuses also provided their prevention strategic plans. Survey data were analyzed via calculation of descriptive statistics. Strategic plans were analyzed via content analysis techniques. Approximately one-third (38%) of participants had heard of the CollegeAIM, but many reported the tool felt unfamiliar and were largely unaware if their departments used the tool to select strategies (16% reported personal use). Over half considered CollegeAIM to be feasible, appropriate, and acceptable for selecting strategies, and CollegeAIM was largely considered to be comprehensive, helpful, and user-friendly. Content analysis of strategic plans revealed that independent of CollegeAIM use, many strategies listed in CollegeAIM were planned for implementation, including many supported by weak evidence. Within one statewide prevention coalition, the CollegeAIM is well-received though is not as widely used by higher education professionals as it could be and has potential for increased uptake with additional dissemination efforts. Recommendations for CollegeAIM use and training are provided.

Although there are evidence-based strategies (EBSs) for alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention and treatment for college students, there has been little focus on evaluating AOD EBS implementation in higher education. The use of implementation strategies in higher education may help bridge the gap between research and practice and improve students’ access to EBSs. However, it is important to first understand determinants of AOD EBS program implementation to support AOD EBS selection and implementation strategy selection.

Risky drinking among college campuses has been a long-standing concern and there have been dedicated efforts to develop evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies (EBSs) to decrease alcohol use and increase healthy behaviors among college students. Further, the College Alcohol Intervention Matrix (CollegeAIM) was developed as a tool with accompanying resources, to assist institutions of higher education in selecting EBSs that are appropriate and a good fit for their campuses. However, the CollegeAIM tool and selection of prevention strategies from stakeholders’ perspectives has yet to be evaluated. This study protocol describes the methodology for a research project evaluating CollegeAIM from an implementation science perspective using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment framework.

Methods

The aims of this study will be accomplished with a mixed-method design comprised of reviews of strategic planning documents, quantitative surveys and interviews with prevention experts, and focus groups to identify key components of a decision-support program for prevention experts to support the use of CollegeAIM. Participants are members of the multi-site Missouri Partners in Prevention coalition to reduce risky substance use on college campuses across the state.

Discussion

The results of this study will provide key information to support the development of additional supportive tools for campuses that can improve their selection and implementation of EBSs that fit the needs of their respective campuses. This work is important to further advance the implementation and sustainment of extant EBSs for risky college alcohol use.

In 2016 a private Missouri university implemented a campus-wide tobacco-free policy to change social norms and prevent tobacco use among students, staff and faculty. This study assesses impact on tobacco and policy-related perceptions and behaviors. Methods: Before the policy went into effect and again one year later, all university students, staff and faculty were invited to participate in an online survey. Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors survey findings supplement results for students. Results: Policy support and norms disapproving tobacco use on campus increased, and self-reported use of any tobacco decreased after the ban was enacted. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the policy led to an increase in the proportion of university community members who agree that smoking on campus is unacceptable, which contributed in turn to a decline in tobacco use on campus, consistent with our theory of effects.

College students have been shown to be at higher risk than the general adult population for gambling-related problems. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a personalized feedback only intervention (PFB) among at-risk college student gamblers.

Method

Three hundred thirty-three college students who met screening criteria were randomized into 1 of 3 conditions: PFB, education only (EDU), or assessment only (AO).

Results

At 3-month follow-up, individuals in the PFB condition reported fewer dollars gambled and fewer gambling-related problems than those in the AO condition. There were no differences between those in the EDU and the AO conditions, or between those in the PFB and the EDU conditions.

Conclusion

These findings are consistent with clinical trials examining other health behaviors, and have implications for the development and delivery of effective intervention programming for at-risk gamblers.