Effects of a Mobile Application "Teenagers Don't Drink" on Preventing Alcohol Consumption among Thai Adolescents: A Quasi-experimental Study.
Somporn Sitthisongkram, Amavasee Ampansirirat, Pornpun Manasatchakun and 4 others
PMID 42483317WHAT IT FOUND
Alcohol screening scores did not differ significantly after the combined app package with family, school, and community modules.
Adolescents showed better alcohol knowledge, less accepting attitudes, higher refusal confidence, and stronger intention not to drink.
Key findings
01The intervention group, which included adolescent app use plus parent, educator, and monk modules, did not differ significantly from the handbook group on AUDIT scores after the intervention (P=0.69).
02The intervention group showed significant baseline-to-follow-up changes on knowledge (5.73 to 7.36, P=0.001), attitudes (38.09 to 34, P=0.02), refusal self-efficacy (43.55 to 48.77, P=0.02), and intention not to drink (61.68 to 65.73, P=0.03).
03After the intervention, the intervention group and handbook group differed significantly on knowledge (P=0.003), attitudes (P<0.001), refusal self-efficacy (P=0.003), parental control/support (P=0.003), and intention not to drink (P<0.001).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used cluster assignment rather than individual randomisation, so group differences at baseline could have influenced results. The sample was small and came from two sub-district areas in Chiang Mai, so results may not apply to other adolescents. Six participants withdrew and two had internet issues, leaving 44 analysed. Baseline groups differed in age, religion, GPA, and household income. Follow-up was only one month, so longer-term drinking changes were not shown. Some phones could not download the app, and internet coverage or memory varied. The intervention included adolescent app use plus parent, educator, and monk modules, so the effect of any single component cannot be separated.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the adolescent app alone reduced alcohol use. The intervention also required parent, educator, and monk modules, and the AUDIT score did not differ significantly between groups after the intervention (P=0.69). The positive findings were mainly knowledge, attitudes, refusal confidence, parental control, and intention to abstain.