Psychoeducational Messaging to Reduce Alcohol Use for College Students With Type 1 Diabetes: Internet-Delivered Pilot Trial

Psychosocial correlates of alcohol and substance use in college youth with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents and young adults with chronic diseases face unique challenges during the college years and may consume alcohol and other substances to cope with stressors. This study aimed to assess the patterns of substance use and to determine psychosocial correlates of these behaviors among college youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

METHODS

College youth with T1D were recruited via social media and direct outreach into a web-based study. Participants answered validated questions about substance use, and they completed validated screeners of depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-2 and GAD-2), illness acceptance (ICQ), interpersonal support (ISEL), and grit (Grit scale). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable regression evaluated substance use behaviors as a function of psychosocial factors while adjusting for age and sex.

RESULTS

Alcohol (84.06%) and marijuana (41.30%) were the most common substances reported. In bivariate analyses, depressive symptoms were positively associated (p = .01) and illness acceptance was inversely associated (p = .02) with marijuana use. Higher grit scores were inversely associated with marijuana use (p < .001) and prescription drug misuse (p = .04). The significant associations between marijuana use and depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.66), illness acceptance (AOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.91-0.99), and grit (AOR 0.32, 95% CI 0.17-0.60) persisted after adjustment for age and sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Substance use is prevalent among college youth with T1D. While psychosocial factors such as depressive symptoms may confer an increased risk, illness acceptance and grit may be protective-especially against marijuana use. Providers should address both positive and negative psychosocial factors to mitigate substance use in this population.

Promotion of Knowledge and Trust Surrounding Scarce Resource Allocation Policies: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted rapid development of scarce resource allocation policies (SRAPs) in case demand for critical health services eclipsed capacity.

Objective

To test whether a brief educational video could improve knowledge of how the University of California Health's SRAP would be implemented and trust in health systems to implement such policies in accordance with ethical principles during the pandemic.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial used an educational video intervention embedded in a longitudinal web-based survey and was conducted between May and December 2020 and analyzed during March 2024. A total of 1971 adult participants were enrolled, of whom 939 completed follow-up; participants with matched baseline and follow-up responses were analyzed. California residents were randomized to view the intervention (n = 345) or not (n = 353) and stratified by age, sex, education, racial identity, and self-reported health care worker status. Non-California residents were allocated to the control group (n = 241).

Interventions

A brief (6-minute) "explainer" video that provided an overview of mechanics and ethical principles underpinning the University of California Health SRAP, subtitled in 6 languages.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Self-reported survey assessment of knowledge of components of SRAP, graded as correct vs incorrect, and trust graded on a 10-point Likert scale. Anxiety about such policies was graded on a 10-point Likert scale with an a priori noninferiority margin of half of a standard deviation. Participants answered items at baseline and follow-up (approximately 10 weeks after baseline), with randomization occurring between administrations.

Results

Of 770 randomized participants with responses at both points, 566 (73.5%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 43.5 (36-57) years. Intervention participants demonstrated improvement of 5.6 (95% CI, 4.8-6.4; P < .001) more correct knowledge items of 20 vs controls, as well as significant improvements in reported trust in fairness/consistency and honesty/transparency about SRAP implementation. There was no significant change in reported anxiety surrounding SRAP in either treatment or control groups.

Conclusions and Relevance

The trial found that a brief educational video is sufficient to explain complex ethical tenets and mechanics of SRAP and improved knowledge of such policies and trust in health systems to implement them equitably while not exacerbating anxiety about potential policy implications. This informs practice by providing a framework for educating people about the use of these policies during future situations necessitating crisis standards of care.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04373135.

Disease-Tailored Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use Among Youths With Chronic Medical Conditions: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

In the US, 25% of youths have a chronic medical condition (CMC). Alcohol use is prevalent among youths with a CMC and is associated with treatment nonadherence, simultaneous exposure to contraindicated medications, poor self-care, and elevated rates of progression to heavy and problem use by young adulthood. Preventive interventions targeting these youths are scarce and lack evidence about longer-term risk-stratified effects.

Objective

To evaluate the 12-month effects of a preventive intervention for alcohol use among youths with a CMC reporting baseline no or low-risk alcohol use vs high-risk alcohol use, testing the hypothesis of no difference.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This presepecified secondary analysis used data from a 2-group, parallel randomized clinical trial of the Take Good Care (TGC) intervention. Convenience samples of youths (aged 14-18 years) with a CMC, such as type 1 diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or inflammatory bowel disease, were randomly assigned to the intervention or treatment as usual (TAU) between May 11, 2017, and November 20, 2018, and were followed up for up to 12 months. High-risk alcohol use was defined as heavy episodic (binge) alcohol use in the past 3 months and alcohol-related blackouts, injuries, vomiting, or emergency department visits in the past 12 months. Data were analyzed from September 21, 2023, to February 3, 2024.

Interventions

The self-administered, tablet computer-based TGC intervention was developed with patient and expert input, and it delivers disease-tailored psychoeducational content about the effects of alcohol use on overall health, disease processes, and treatment safety and efficacy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was self-reported frequency of alcohol use (in days) over the past 3 months, measured by a single validated question. Maximum likelihood methods incorporating all available data were used assuming data missing at random.

Results

The trial included 451 participants (229 female youths [50.8%]), with a mean (SD) age of 16.0 (1.4) years. Of these youths, 410 (90.9%) participated in the 12-month follow-up. At baseline, 52 youths (11.5%) reported high-risk alcohol use. Among participants with high-risk alcohol use, the observed mean (SD) frequency of alcohol use from baseline to the 12-month follow-up decreased in the intervention group (from 6.3 [4.6] to 4.9 [4.3] days) and increased in the TAU group (from 5.5 [4.9] to 9.0 [5.8] days), with an adjusted relative rate ratio of 0.60 (95% CI, 0.38 to 0.94). There were no group differences among youths reporting no or low-risk alcohol use.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this trial of a brief chronic illness-tailored preventive intervention, medically vulnerable youths with a high risk of alcohol use and harm decreased alcohol use. These findings support the use of a personalized preventive intervention with this group.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02803567.

Barriers and Facilitators Impacting Disease and Symptom Management Among College Students With Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators impacting disease and symptom management among college students living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).

DESIGN

A qualitative, phenomenological approach using semi-structured, one-on-one interviews.

SETTING

Interviews conducted on Zoom (n = 28) and in-person (n = 3).

PARTICIPANTS

Purposive sample of 31 college students living with T1D for at least 2 years who attended large, 4-year public universities in the Southeastern United States.

METHOD

This study was theoretically informed using the Middle-Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness Integration of Symptoms to develop interview questions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and uploaded in NVivo. Data were analyzed thematically using a codebook developed by the research team using the theory as a framework. Trustworthiness was established using an audit trail, memos, and negative case analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes described barriers: diabetes burnout, challenges adjusting to a college lifestyle, difficulty receiving medical supplies, and insurance limitations. Five themes explained facilitators: years of experience managing T1D, tangible support with medical supplies, informational support for disease management, and emotional/technological support for disease and symptom management.

CONCLUSION

Barriers and facilitators in this study should be addressed in future T1D interventions for college students. Findings can also guide healthcare professionals, health promotion practitioners, family, friends, and significant others on how to better support college students as they manage T1D.

A systematic review of binge drinking interventions and bias assessment among college students and young adults in high-income countries

Alcohol is the number one substance used by young people and people of college age. Binge drinking (BD) in this age group is considered one of the most important global health issues, as much harm accrues from it and even lives are lost. This study aimed to review the interventions to curb BD or encourage responsible drinking among college students and young adults. MEDLINE (PubMed), ERIC and APA PsycINFO were searched. The selected articles were published in English and had to evaluate a BD reduction program through a randomized control trial (RCT) among college students or young adults between the ages of 17-24 years. The exclusion criteria included research not published in English, systematic review articles, qualitative studies, designs other than RCTs and discussion articles on college students drinking with no findings. The three reviewers independently screened and extracted the data using the PRISMA guidelines. The overall quality of the studies was assessed. Then, 10 of the 12 interventions studied were found to be successful in reducing BD among college students, though the effect sizes were small to medium. A minority of the studies used behavior change theories. Effective interventions for reducing BD among college students and young adults should include robust behavior change theories, longer follow-up time and the operationalization of multiple outcomes. Process evaluation is needed to be conducted in these studies.

Indicators of Healthcare Transition Progress Among College Youth With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents with chronic diseases must navigate changing healthcare needs in college and beyond. This study examined the ability of college youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to achieve transition milestones and ascertained sociodemographic predictors of a successful healthcare transition (HCT).

METHODS

College youth with T1D were recruited via social media and direct outreach to participate in a web-based study, during which they answered questions about the HCT process. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression were used to evaluate HCT measures as a function of sociodemographic variables.

RESULTS

Nearly two-thirds of participants (N = 138) had discussions with their providers about changing healthcare needs (65.9%) and transferring care to adult physicians (64.5%); less than one-third (27.9%) discussed obtaining health insurance as an adult. Females were more likely than males to discuss transitioning to adult providers (70.3% vs 40.7%, P < .01). Those covered on a parent's insurance (vs other) plan were more likely to receive help with finding adult providers (79.3% vs 44.4%, P = .04) but less likely to discuss how to obtain health insurance (25.0% vs 61.1%, P < .01). These differences persisted after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

Improvement is needed with regard to college youth with T1D becoming autonomous managers of their own care. Gaps were found in their experiences of discussing changing healthcare needs, locating adult providers, and obtaining health insurance-especially among those who were younger, male, and not covered under parental insurance. Efforts to improve the HCT process should focus particularly on these subgroups to advance healthcare delivery in this population.

Recent Rates of Substance Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in the USA

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Substance use is a major public health problem in adolescents and young adults (AYA) and is particularly dangerous for AYA with type 1 diabetes (T1D) due to additional health consequences related to T1D. Rates of substance use among AYA with T1D are difficult to ascertain. Currently, we aim to provide a summary of published rates of substance use, over the last 10 years, among AYA with T1D in the USA.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review included a database search, abstract screening, and synthesizing of articles published in the last 10 years that reported rates of substance use among AYA with T1D. We also compared rates to national survey data from the Center for Disease Control and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Of 138 articles, 123 abstracts were excluded due to non-relevance or because they were conducted outside of the USA; 15 articles were evaluated, and 8 provided original data on AYA with T1D. These 8 studies were summarized and compared to nationwide survey data. Most of the published rates of substance use among AYA with T1D were similar to national survey data for alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Rates of illicit drug use were lower among AYA with T1D. Despite additional health consequences, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use is about as prevalent among AYA with T1D as in the general US population. These findings emphasize the importance of conducting more research in this area, developing effective interventions, and incorporating prevention into standard clinical practices.

Lake A, Singh T, Hamblin PS, Rasmussen B. The experiences and support needs of students with diabetes at university: An integrative literature review

AIMS

Commencing university presents particular challenges for young adults with diabetes. This integrative literature review aimed to synthesise the research exploring the experiences and support needs of university students with diabetes.

METHODS

Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo and EMBASE databases were searched for quantitative and qualitative studies, among undergraduate and postgraduate students with type 1 or type 2 diabetes conducted in the university setting. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles. Data were analysed thematically and synthesised narratively utilising the ecological model as a framework for interpreting findings and making recommendations.

RESULTS

We identified 25 eligible papers (20 studies) utilising various methods: individual interview, focus group, survey, online forum. Four themes were identified: barriers to self-care (e.g. lack of structure and routine); living with diabetes as a student; identity, stigma and disclosure; and strategies for managing diabetes at university. Students in the early years at university, recently diagnosed or moved away from home, reported more self-care difficulties, yet few accessed university support services. Risky alcohol-related behaviours, perceived stigma and reluctance to disclose diabetes inhibited optimal diabetes management.

CONCLUSION

Despite the heterogeneity of studies, consistent themes related to diabetes self-care difficulties and risky behaviours were reported by young adults with diabetes transitioning to university life. No effective interventions to support students with diabetes were identified in this setting. Multilevel approaches to support students to balance the competing demands of study and diabetes self-care are needed, particularly in the early years of university life.

Effects of a Patient-Centered Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use Among Youth With Chronic Medical Conditions

PURPOSE

Alcohol poses unique risks for youth with chronic medical conditions (YCMC) yet many drink. Preventive interventions targeting YCMC are scarce.

METHODS

YCMC with type 1 diabetes, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or inflammatory bowel disease were recruited and randomized to trial the effects of a self-administered condition-tailored psychoeducational intervention on frequency in days of past 3-month alcohol use, alcohol-related risk perceptions, and knowledge. Changes in outcomes over time were measured and compared by treatment arm using multivariate mixed effects models.

RESULTS

Among N = 418 participants (average age 16.0 years, 52.2% female, 84.7% white, 90.7% non-Hispanic), 24.2% reported past-year alcohol use at baseline. Alcohol-related knowledge increased overall and was greater for the intervention group (adjusted improvement in knowledge score +7.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.92-12.48). By 6-month follow-up, the percentage of youth reporting any alcohol use is risky/dangerous increased among intervention arm participants from 41.5% to 45.4% at baseline and decreased from 38.9% to 37.4% among controls (adjusted intervention effect odds ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.02-3.13). Overall, frequency of drinking increased over time from 3.72 to 4.52 days on average, with no differences by treatment group. Among female drinkers, the predicted mean frequency of drinking days declined in the intervention group (4.11-3.33) and increased among controls (2.82-4.55) (adjusted intervention effect rate ratio .50, 95% confidence interval .25-.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to a chronic illness-tailored psychoeducational intervention targeting alcohol use increased knowledge and perceived risk and, among females, reduced alcohol use. Promising results merit future work to optimize the model for both males and females.

Association of Screening and Brief Intervention With Substance Use in Massachusetts Middle and High Schools

Importance

Screening and brief intervention (SBI) programs in schools have the potential to provide substance use prevention messages to large numbers of adolescents. This study evaluated the association between exposure to a school-based SBI program and reductions in substance use among youths after enactment of a law that required Massachusetts schools to provide SBI to all students.

Objective

To estimate the association between exposure to a school-based SBI program and changes in substance use among youths.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this mixed-method quality improvement study using an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design, stakeholder interviews were conducted to describe the operations, timing, and impressions of SBI implementation at 14 intervention schools in Massachusetts. Repeated cross-sectional surveys of youths in intervention and comparison groups were administered between December 19, 2017, and May 22, 2019, to assess substance use and associated measures of perceived risk, knowledge, and adult support before and approximately 3 months after SBI implementation among exposed groups. A difference-in-differences framework was used to estimate substance use outcomes associated with SBI exposure among students in middle school (grades 7 and 8) and high school (grades 9 and 10) using adjusted overlap-weighted generalized models to account for covariate imbalance between exposed and unexposed school grades. In addition, 14 school staff members were interviewed about implementation.

Exposures

Exposure vs nonexposure to a school-based SBI program.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Frequency of alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarette use (measured in days) and any binge drinking in the past 3 months.

Results

Between December 2017 and May 2019, 8771 survey responses were collected from 4587 students in grades 7 through 10 who were attending one of 23 participating school districts. The median (IQR) age was 13 (13-14) years (range, 12-17 years); 2226 students self-identified as female (48.5%), 2206 (48.1%) as male, and 155 (3.4%) as transgender or preferred not to answer. Overall, 163 students (3.6%) identified their race as Asian, 146 (3.2%) as Black or African American, 2952 (64.4%) as White, and 910 (19.8%) as mixed or other race (including American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander); 416 students (9.1%) preferred not to answer or were missing data on race. A total of 625 students (13.6%) identified their ethnicity as Hispanic and 3962 (86.4%) as non-Hispanic. Cannabis use increased over time in both the SBI group (middle school: marginal estimated probability, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.21-2.51] at baseline vs 2.01 [95% CI, 0.60-6.70] at follow-up; high school: marginal estimated probability, 2.86 [95% CI, 0.56-14.56] at baseline vs 3.10 [95% CI, 0.57-16.96] at follow-up) and the control group (middle school: marginal estimated probability, 0.24 [95% CI, 0.05-1.03] at baseline vs 3.38 [95% CI, 0.81-14.18] at follow-up; high school: marginal estimated probability, 1.30 [95% CI, 0.27-6.29] at baseline vs 1.72 [95% CI, 0.34-8.66] at follow-up). e-cigarette use also increased over time in both the SBI group (middle school: marginal estimated probability, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.22-3.01] at baseline vs 1.94 [95% CI, 0.53-7.02] at follow-up; high school: marginal estimated probability, 3.82 [95% CI, 0.72-20.42] at baseline vs 3.51 [95% CI, 0.55-22.59] at follow-up) and the control group (middle school: marginal estimated probability, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.12-2.30] at baseline vs 3.40 [95% CI, 0.72-16.08] at follow-up; high school: marginal estimated probability, 2.29 [95% CI, 0.41-12.65] at baseline vs 3.53 [95% CI, 0.62-20.16] at follow-up). Exposure to SBI was associated with a significantly smaller increase in the rate of cannabis use among middle school students (adjusted rate ratio [aRR], 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04-0.86) and significantly smaller increases in the rates of cannabis and e-cigarette use among all female students (cannabis use: aRR, 0.17 [95% CI, 0.03-0.96]; e-cigarette use: aRR, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.03-0.82]) compared with nonexposure. No other significant differences were observed among students in grades 7 and 8, and no differences were found in any comparison between groups in grades 9 and 10.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this quality improvement study, exposure to a school-based SBI program was associated with a significantly smaller increase in the rate of cannabis use among middle school students and significantly smaller increases in the rates of cannabis and e-cigarette use among all female students. These findings suggest that implementation of SBI programs in schools may help to reduce substance use among middle school and female students, and further study of these programs is warranted.