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The life‐enhancing alcohol‐management program: Results from a 6‐month nonrandomized controlled pilot study assessing a community based participatory research program in housing first
Author(s) -
Clifasefi Seema L.,
Collins Susan E.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.22291
Subject(s) - generalizability theory , alcohol , harm , quality of life (healthcare) , randomized controlled trial , medicine , psychology , clinical psychology , nursing , developmental psychology , social psychology , surgery , biochemistry , chemistry
A 2‐arm, 6‐month, nonrandomized controlled pilot trial was conducted to test the initial effectiveness of the Life Enhancing Alcohol‐management Program (LEAP) as an adjunct to Housing First (HF; e.g., permanent supportive housing) on alcohol and quality‐of‐life (QoL) outcomes. The LEAP entails resident‐driven leadership opportunities, meaningful activities, and pathways to recovery aimed at reducing alcohol‐related harm and improving QoL. Data analyses were conducted to test between‐ and within‐subjects effects of the LEAP on self‐reported alcohol and QoL outcomes among HF residents. At the 6‐month follow up, between groups analysis revealed nonsignificant findings for alcohol quantity or alcohol‐related harm (ps > 0.06); however, LEAP participants reported significantly more engagement in meaningful activities than control participants ( p < .001), and within‐subjects analyses indicated that high levels of LEAP programming engagement predicted significant reductions in alcohol quantity and alcohol‐related harm (ps < 0.01). The LEAP was associated with increased engagement in meaningful activities, and greater involvement in the LEAP programming was associated with reduced alcohol use and alcohol‐related harm. Planning is underway for a future, large‐scale randomized controlled trial to establish the efficacy of this approach, its generalizability across HF programs, and potential mechanisms of action.