Designing and evaluating a self-help website to reduce teen alcohol use.

摘要

Teen substance use is an issue of major concern. Increasing numbers of teens are using alcohol and at earlier ages, resulting in severe and lasting consequences. Given teenagers' developmental predispositions for risk-taking, illusions of invincibility, and limited attention to long-term consequences, it is critical for parents and other concerned adults to help teenagers think about and realistically evaluate the consequences of their actions in age-appropriate ways. Teens and young adults have been noted for being highly technically savvy, being regular online users, and obtaining much of their information online. Therefore, it would be helpful to leverage technical and online solutions for supporting teens in resisting pressures to drink. However, existing self-help websites are created and run by mental health professionals, generally without help or feedback from teens. The present action research project contributed to existing literature by inviting teens to participate in the design of a new self-help website by providing evaluative feedback through group interviews. This is the only research project involving focus group evaluations of teen self-help websites known to date. The present project involved designing, evaluating, and modifying a new self-help website for teenagers who are using alcohol or considering using alcohol, with the purpose of helping them avoid underage drinking and its consequences. First, a website was created based on an extensive literature review. Second, a 2-hour workshop of 15 college students was convened to present and evaluate the website. Focus group notes were transcribed and emerging topics for each question were summarized. Third, the website was redesigned based on participant feedback. Recommendations based on the results on the present study are to continue creating and maintaining alcohol and substance abuse self-help websites for teens and to create awareness about these sites so the target population may make use of them. Suggestions for continued research are to repeat the study with a larger sample and improved data collection tools. Another suggestion for continued research is to explore additional self-help options for teens to avoid underage drinking.