Remote Versus In-Lab Computer-Delivered Personalized Normative Feedback Interventions for College Student Drinking

Objective: Computer-based interventions aimed at reducing college student drinking have shown positive effects. The authors compare differences in effects of computer-based personalized normative feedback (PNF) interventions based on delivery modality (in-person vs. remotely) across six previously evaluated studies with similar content. Method: Three studies included evaluations of a computer-based PNF intervention in which baseline and intervention procedures took place inside a laboratory setting; three separate studies included evaluations of the same intervention in which participants completed the procedures remotely over the Web. Thus, we tested for differences in intervention efficacy by delivery modality. Outcomes included drinks per week, drinking-related consequences, and the putative intervention mechanism, perceived drinking norms. Results: Evidence from hierarchical linear models indicated that computer-based interventions are less effective at reducing drinking and related consequences when delivered remotely than when delivered in person. Conclusion: The advantages of interventions delivered remotely are not without cost. Suggestions for why remote computer-based interventions may be less effective are discussed. What is the public health significance of this article? This research highlights the importance of intervention delivery method for computer-delivered brief alcohol interventions. Results across six studies provide evidence of better outcomes for personalized normative feedback (PNF) delivered in person over remote delivery.