Effectiveness of a Nurse-Led Brief Psychosocial Intervention on Harmful Alcohol Use Among Indian Undergraduate Students.

BACKGROUND

Harmful alcohol use among undergraduate students is a rising concern, with implications for physical, psychological, and academic outcomes. Evidence for nurse-led brief psychosocial interventions based on the FRAMES (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu of options, Empathy, and Self-efficacy) model remains limited in Indian settings.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 330 undergraduate students identified as harmful alcohol users using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), allocated into experimental (n = 162) and control (n = 168) groups. Baseline data were collected using the AUDIT tool and sociodemographic questionnaire. The experimental group received two sessions of one-on-one brief negotiated interviews using FRAMES, delivered by a trained nursing professional. Post-test data were collected after three and six months. Non-parametric tests were used for within- and between-group comparisons.

RESULTS

At baseline, sociodemographic characteristics and mean AUDIT scores were comparable between the experimental and control groups. Following the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in mean AUDIT scores (p < 0.001), while the control group did not show any notable changes.

CONCLUSION

Nurse-led FRAMES-based brief psychosocial intervention effectively reduces harmful alcohol use among undergraduate students. Given its brevity, feasibility, and potential scalability, this model may be incorporated into college-based health services for early identification and intervention.