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Online support groups as social support networks for problem drinkers

Online support groups as social support networks for problem drinkers. Why the Internet?. Brief self-help interventions well suited to the Internet Problem drinkers (AUDIT 8 or more): 88% accessed the Internet 81% had home access to the Internet Adult population, Ontario, Canada, 2005.

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Online support groups as social support networks for problem drinkers

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  1. Online support groups as social support networks for problem drinkers

  2. Why the Internet? • Brief self-help interventions well suited to the Internet • Problem drinkers (AUDIT 8 or more): • 88% accessed the Internet • 81% had home access to the Internet • Adult population, Ontario, Canada, 2005

  3. Why the Internet? • Why participants choose online help: • I have easy access to a computer (69%) • It is important to me to be able to access MM at any time of day (38%) • I like the privacy (38%) • It is easier for me to write about my feelings and experiences than to speak about them in front of a group (25%; Females = 35%, Males = 13%) • On-line participation is easier than attending meetings due to my buy work schedule (23%)

  4. Why the Internet? • Online participation as a step to seeking treatment • Pathways disclosure model • No evidence that people are using Internet instead of treatment

  5. Use of Support Group • 155 people registered on the AHC • 49 posted at least one message • Range in number of posts by members: 1 – 79 • 674 messages posted by members or support staff • 200 of these messages made by support staff • Discussion strings viewed more than 5800 times • No difference in characteristics between those who posted or did not post

  6. Content of messages • The most common content (N = 647): • Introductions/greetings/thanks for support (30%) • General messages of encouragement (17%) • Introductions and greetings (16%) • Questions about site/go to IM buddies (13%) • Specific suggestions/what worked for me (12%) • Experiencing urges/concern about future event (8%) • From support specialists: • General encouragement (17%) • Specific suggestions for what might help (18%)

  7. Content of messages • Other meaningful content: • Why I am changing/these are my goals (7%) • Success stories (6%) • Discussions of slips (5%) • Requests for help/advice (5%) • I have felt this as well (4%)

  8. Summary • AHC just starting up • Does not appear to be self-sustaining as of yet • Discussions clustered around ‘nodes’ of one or two active users • Support staff playing essential role • Keeping discussions active by ‘seeding’ • Providing support when others not online • High quality content • How to capture meaningful content in analysis?

  9. Collaborators, Funding, and Conflict of Interest • Collaborators: Joanne Cordingley, Keith Humphreys, Anja Koski-Jännes, Kypros Kypri, Trevor van Mierlo • Sources of Funding: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Canadian Institutes of Health Research National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Van Mierlo Communications Consulting Inc. • Conflict of Interest Dr. Cunningham has acted as a paid consultant to Van Mierlo Communications Consulting Inc., the owner of the Alcohol Help Center software.

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