Randomized Trial Integrating Substance Abuse With Bystander-Based Violence Prevention

R01 Randomized Trial Integrating Substance Abuse with Bystander-Based Violence Prevention Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act1 (2013) requires US public institutions of higher learning to provide bystander-based training,”2 to reduce sexual violence, yet little research has investigated program elements that may influence program efficacy. Programmatic elements deserving more rigorous (randomized trials) evaluation include: “dose”, “combinations”, and delivery methods. Emerging evidence suggests Green Dot’s efficacy to increase bystander behaviors and to reduce some forms of violence, but it has not been evaluated in a college setting using a randomized trial. While Green Dot has been in place at UK since 2008, INTensive bystander training has never been universally implemented and incoming students have not been targets for this intervention. Comparisons of bystander components are needed to identify the more efficacious and cost-effective programmatic elements. Design: We propose a randomized intervention trial to evaluate the efficacy of bystander training elements. Three cohorts of incoming UK undergraduates (Fall 2015, 2016, 2017; anticipated n~6750) will be randomized to one of the following conditions: 1) Online bystander training alone; 2) Green Dot INtensive bystander training; 3) Green Dot integrated with Substance Abuse Prevention training. Online training is mandatory for all incoming UK undergraduates, thus all three groups will receive EverFi’s Alcohol Edu and HAVEN, a bystander-based sexual assault awareness program. Aim 1: Determine the relative efficacy of the three approaches to bystander training to a) increase bystander efficacy, intentions, and behaviors for violence and substance abuse, b) reduce acceptance of violence and substance abuse, c) reduce binge drinking or consequences of alcohol abuse (AUDIT measure), and d) reduce risky behaviors associated with sexual and dating violence . Aim 2: Determine the cost and relative cost effectiveness of implementing bystander training by approach. In addition to surveys at baseline, 4 and 9 months for recruited students, Instagram queries will be launched on random days including weekends to get a “real time” estimate of students’ social engagement, risk taking and bystander behaviors. Value-added: UK has ongoing mandatory training and data collection which will be available with student consent as outcome measures. These include pre- and 45 day-post training with Alcohol EDU and HAVEN (fall term), and Campus Attitudes Toward Safety (spring term) which measures self-reported sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking and dating violence victimization and perpetration. All analyses will be conducted by randomized condition with Online training as usual care using an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Expected Outcomes: This randomized intervention trial will determine which bystander-based programmatic elements are most efficacious in changing risk behaviors which may lead to violence and/or alcohol abuse. This trial will provide strategic information needed by public colleges to effectively meet the mandate to implement effective bystander interventions.