A Web-Based Sexual Violence, Alcohol Misuse, and Bystander Intervention Program for College Women (RealConsent): Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Journal of medical Internet research 2023-06, Vol.25 (1), p.e43740-e43740
• Main Authors: Salazar, Laura Francisca, Schipani-McLaughlin, Anne Marie, Sebeh, Yesser, Nizam, Zainab, Hayat, Matt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol abuse; Alcohol use; Alcoholism; Behavior change; Behavior Therapy; Bystanders; Clinical trials; College campuses; College students; Colleges & universities; Communication; Consent; Dosage; Educational objectives; Educational programs; Efficacy; Entertainment; Female; Health behavior; Humans; Internet; Intervention; Original Paper; Portable computers; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevention; Prevention programs; Protective factors; Review boards; Risk behavior; Self defense; Self-efficacy; Sex Offenses - prevention & control; Sexual violence; Skills; Universities; Women
• ISSN: 1438-8871; 1439-4456; 1438-8871
• DOI: 10.2196/43740

Sexual violence (SV) incidence among college women has been invariant for the past 20 years. Innovative prevention strategies that are low resource and technology driven but demonstrate efficacy are greatly needed. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a novel theoretically driven internet-based intervention for first-year college students who identify as women (RealConsent) in reducing their risk of exposure to SV and alcohol misuse as well as increasing alcohol protective and bystander behaviors. This randomized controlled trial involved first-year college students who identified as women (n=881) attending 1 of 3 universities in the southeastern United States. Participants aged 18 to 20 years were randomized to RealConsent (444/881, 50.4%) or to an attention-matched placebo control (437/881, 49.6%). RealConsent is fully automated and consists of four 45-minute modules that incorporate entertainment-education media and proven behavior change techniques. The primary outcome was exposure to SV; the secondary outcomes were alcohol protective behaviors, dating risk behaviors, alcohol misuse, and bystander behavior. Study outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Among participants with some exposure to SV, those in the RealConsent group experienced less exposure to SV than the placebo group (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.48, 95% CI 0.33-0.69; P=.002). Furthermore, participants in the RealConsent group engaged in more alcohol protective behaviors (adjusted odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI 0.12-2.22; P=.03) and were less likely to binge drink (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.97; P=.003). Finally, participants in the RealConsent group who had 100% dosage were more likely to engage in bystander behavior than those with