Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104316

Ryan J. Martin, MS¹, Stuart Usdan, PhD, CHES², Jennifer Cremeens¹, and Janet Reis, PhD³. (1) Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Room 216, 1700 College Street, Columbia, SC 29201-9980, (708) 921-7474, martinr4@mailbox.sc.edu, (2) Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Univeristy of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, HESC 220, Columbia, SC 29208, (3) Department of Family Medicine, University of Illinois, 190 Medical Sciences Buildng, 507 South Mathews, Urbana, IL 61821

There is a strong relationship between alcohol consumption in the college environment and various health related problems, such as missing class, risky sexual practices, and driving under the influence (Johnston et al., 1996). One innovation that addresses college drinking is Alcohol 101, a multimedia alcohol education CD-Rom program (Wall and Cox, 2000). The diffusion of Alcohol 101 was evaluated within a residence hall of a large Midwestern University. This study explored the communication channel between resident hall advisors (RA's) (n=10) and their first-year student residents (n=153). According to the Diffusion of Innovations theory (1995), students who receive the Alcohol 101 program from their RA individually (i.e., door-to-door) will more likely utilize the program than those who receive it in a mass setting (i.e., floor meetings). Surveys were administered to RA's and their residents to collect information on the Alcohol 101 diffusion process and program utilization rates. Most of the RA's (n=7) used door-to-door distribution, while three used floor meetings as a way to distribute the program. More than half (51.6%) of residents who received Alcohol 101 at their door utilized the program, compared to only 23.3% of residents who received the program at a floor meeting. Chi-square analysis (X2=8.65, p=.01) revealed significant differences in utilization rates based on distribution method. As college alcohol prevention programs are limited by poor utilization, this study identifies strategies to increase participation in education programs. Recommendations for improving the diffusion of this innovative alcohol education program will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify strategies to increase participation in alcohol education programs.
• Develop an understanding of communication channels between Resident Advisors (RA's) and college students.
• Recognize ways to improve diffusion of multimedia alcohol education programs in a college setting.

Keywords: College Students, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.