Predictors of booster engagement following a web-based brief intervention for alcohol misuse among National Guard Members: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

Background: Alcohol misuse is a major health concern among military members. Reserve component members face unique barriers as they live off base with limited access to behavioral health services. Web and app-based brief interventions are a promising means to improve access to treatment for those who misuse alcohol, with the use of booster sessions to enhance effectiveness, solidify gains, and reinforce changes. However, little is known about who will engage in booster sessions. Objective: This study aims to evaluate booster engagement across booster delivery modalities (Web and Peer) and identify participant-specific factors associated with booster session engagement. Methods: Following a brief web-based alcohol misuse intervention in National Guard members (N=739), we examined engagement in a series of three booster sessions. Using unadjusted and adjusted models, demographic and clinical characteristics that may serve as predictors of booster session engagement were examined across the 2 arms of the trial with different types of booster sessions: peer-delivered (N=245) and web-delivered (N=246). Results: Booster session completion was greater for Peer than Web Booster sessions, with 142 (58%) service members in the Peer Booster arm completing all three boosters compared with only 108 (44%) of participants in the Web Booster arm (χ23=10.3; P=.006). In a model in which the 2 groups were combined, socioeconomic factors predicted booster engagement. In separate models, the demographic and clinical predictors of booster engagement varied between the 2 delivery modalities. Conclusions: The use of peer-delivered boosters, especially among subsets of reserve members at risk of lack of engagement, may foster greater uptake and improve treatment outcomes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02181283; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02181283