Prevention of Alcohol-related Incidents in the U.S. Air Force: Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial

Authors

Melissa A. Little, School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.Follow
Robert C. Klesges, School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
Indika Mallawaarachchi, School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
Timothy McMurry, School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.
Kinsey Pebley, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
Meghan McDevitt-Murphy, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
James Murphy, Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
G Wayne Talcott, School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alcohol misuse poses significant public health concerns in the U.S. Military. An Alcohol Misconduct Prevention Program (AMPP), which includes a brief alcohol intervention (BAI) session, plus random breathalyzer program, has been shown to reduce alcohol-related incidents (ARIs) among Airmen undergoing training. PURPOSE: The current study sought to examine whether a booster BAI administered at the end of Airmen's training reduced ARIs out to a 1-year follow-up. METHODS: Participants were 26,231 U.S. Air Force Technical Trainees recruited between March 2016 and July 2018. Participants were cluster randomized by cohort to two conditions: AMPP + BAI Booster or AMPP + Bystander Intervention. The primary analysis was a comparison of the interventions' efficacies in preventing Article 15 ARIs at a 1-year follow-up, conducted using a generalized estimating equations logistic regression model controlling for covariates. RESULTS: There was no significant difference by condition in Article 15 ARIs at the 1-year follow-up (P = .912). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that a booster may not be necessary to produce maximum effects beyond the initial AMPP intervention. It is also possible that alcohol behaviors changed as a result of the intervention but were not captured by our outcome measures. Future research should consider alternative outcomes or participant-tracking measures to determine whether a different or more intensive BAI booster is effective. The majority of Article 15 ARIs were for underage drinking; therefore, developing an intervention focused on this problem behavior could lead to large reductions in training costs in the military.

Publication Title

Military medicine

Recommended Citation

Little, M. A., Klesges, R. C., Mallawaarachchi, I., McMurry, T., Pebley, K., McDevitt-Murphy, M., Murphy, J., & Wayne Talcott, G. (2021). Prevention of Alcohol-related Incidents in the U.S. Air Force: Results From a Cluster Randomized Trial. Military medicine https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usab489