Background: Alcohol misuse is a major social and public health issue in Australia, with an estimated cost to the community of Aus $30 billion per annum. Until recently, a major barrier in addressing this significant public health issue is the fact that the majority of individuals with alcohol use disorders and alcohol misuse are not receiving treatment. Objective: This study aimed to assess whether alcohol consumption changes are associated with participation in Hello Sunday Morning’s blog platform, an online forum discussing experiences in abstaining from alcohol. Methods: The study reports on Hello Sunday Morning participants who signed up for a 3-month period of abstinence from November 2009 to November 2016. The sample comprised 1917 participants (female: 1227/1917, 64.01%; male: 690/1917, 35.99%). Main outcome measures were Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores, mood, program engagement metrics, and slip-ups. Results: Individuals who reported hazardous (preprogram AUDIT mean 11.92, SD 2.25) and harmful consumption levels (preprogram AUDIT mean 17.52, SD 1.08) and who engaged in the Hello Sunday Morning program reported a significant decrease in alcohol consumption, moving to lower risk consumption levels (hazardous, mean 7.59, SD 5.70 and harmful, mean 10.38, SD 7.43), 4 months following program commencement (P<.001 those who reported high-risk or dependent consumption levels experienced the biggest reduction mean sd moving to risky months following program commencement these reductions in risk were maintained by participants each group commencement. furthermore engaged more defined sign-ins blogs posted check-ins completed and engagement with community through likes had lower alcohol consumption. finally slip-ups conclusions: participation an online forum can support long-term behavior change individuals wishing their drinking behavior. importantly audit scores appeared larger for at hazardous before this has promising implications future models of treatment as forums are anonymous accessible cost-effective alternative adjunct treatment-as-usual. further research is needed into specific mechanisms within a web-based supportive well role mood states predicting>
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