ECALC Program for Reducing College Student Alcohol Abuse

(ECALC Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Central Florida

Disqualifiers: Not UCF student, Pregnant, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a web-based program called ECALC, designed to help college students reduce alcohol use and related harms. The program includes a 50-minute interactive session, followed by a few weeks of tracking alcohol use and expectations. Some participants will also receive additional support through smartphone reminders (ECALC Plus Weekly Boosters) to determine if it helps maintain the program's benefits over time. This trial suits first-year college students who drink frequently and speak English fluently. As an unphased trial, it offers an opportunity to contribute to research that could benefit college students struggling with alcohol use.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the ECALC program is safe for college students?

Research has shown that the ECALC program effectively helps college students reduce alcohol consumption. Students who used ECALC reported drinking less and experiencing fewer alcohol-related problems than those who did not use the program.

The ECALC program, which includes a version with weekly follow-ups, changes students' views on alcohol through interactive activities. Studies have found no negative side effects or harmful events from using ECALC, indicating that students handle the program well.

Prospective participants in an ECALC trial can feel assured about the program's safety based on current research. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the ECALC treatments because they take a fresh approach to reducing alcohol abuse among college students by targeting the way they think about drinking. Unlike traditional methods that often focus on education or counseling, the ECALC program uses cognitive-behavioral strategies to change students' expectations and thought patterns related to alcohol. The ECALC Plus Weekly Boosters arm adds an innovative twist by delivering additional support through mobile devices, making it more accessible and continuous in real-time. This combination of cognitive-behavioral intervention with digital support could make it more effective in creating lasting changes in behavior.

What evidence suggests that the ECALC program is effective for reducing college student alcohol abuse?

Research has shown that the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC), a treatment arm in this trial, helps reduce alcohol use among college students. In studies, students who participated in the ECALC program changed their beliefs about alcohol and drank less afterward. Improvements appeared in areas like socializing, feeling less tense, and increased confidence, with clear effects on alcohol use. Another treatment arm, the ECALC Plus Weekly Boosters, also led to similar changes in beliefs and reduced alcohol consumption. Overall, both the ECALC and its booster version have successfully reduced alcohol-related behaviors and beliefs. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Michael E Dunn, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Central Florida

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for full-time first-year college students who drink alcohol, as indicated by specific AUDIT-C scores (5 or higher for women, 7 or higher for men), speak English fluently, and can consent to research. It excludes non-students, pregnant individuals, and those with very high AUDIT scores (15+).

Inclusion Criteria

AUDIT-C score = 5 or higher (women), 7 or higher (men)

I am a full-time first-year college student.

Able to consent to participate in research

Exclusion Criteria

AUDIT score = 15 or higher

Pregnant

Not a student enrolled at University of Central Florida

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Intervention

Participants complete the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) interactive program

50 minutes

1 visit (virtual)

Post-Intervention Monitoring

Participants provide daily, real-time data on expectancies and alcohol use for 3 weeks after intervention

3 weeks

Daily self-report (virtual)

Booster Sessions

Biweekly boosters delivered via smartphone to assess their impact on intervention decay over time

6 months

Biweekly sessions (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in alcohol use and expectancies at 13 and 25 weeks post-intervention

6 months

Weekly self-report (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• ECALC
• ECALC Plus Weekly Boosters

Trial Overview The study tests a web-based program called ECALC designed to reduce alcohol use among college students. Participants complete the program and track their drinking habits over several months. Some will receive extra biweekly smartphone messages ('boosters') to see if they help maintain the program's benefits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: ECALC Plus Weekly Boosters Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Cognitive Behavioral Program to Change Expectancy Processes with Weekly Booster Content Delivered by Mobile Device

Group II: ECALC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Cognitive Behavioral Program to Change Expectancy Processes

Group III: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Control Group Presentation on Body Image

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Central Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

101

Recruited

1,191,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10349386/

Effective prevention programming for reducing alcohol-related ... The current study provides further evidence that ECALC is an effective intervention for reducing alcohol consumption and related consequences, and these ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11151344/

Delivery of a Prevention Program in Large College Classes Compared to the control group, students who received ECALC demonstrated significant expectancy changes and reported less alcohol use at follow-up. Findings ...

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10826084.2023.2223282

Effectiveness of the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy ... Compared to the control group, students who received ECALC demonstrated significant expectancy changes and reported less alcohol use at follow- ...

4. stars.library.ucf.edu stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6099&context=etd

Evaluation of the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy ... Results indicated that the baseline expectancies were significantly lower for Sociability (d=1.25),. Tension Reduction (d=0.42), and Liquid Courage (d=0.25) and ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/221865454_The_Expectancy_Challenge_Alcohol_Literacy_Curriculum_ECALC_A_Single_Session_Group_Intervention_to_Reduce_Alcohol_Use

A Single Session Group Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use Results demonstrated significant changes on 5 of the 7 subscales of the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Scale (CEOA) among students who received the ECALC when ...

6. humanfactors.jmir.org humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e69873

A Novel Just-in-Time Intervention for Promoting Safer Drinking ... The primary outcome in both trials was students' self-reported confidence in using protective behavioral strategies related to drinking, with ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/371781012_Delivery_of_a_Prevention_Program_in_Large_College_Classes_Effectiveness_of_the_Expectancy_Challenge_Alcohol_Literacy_Curriculum

Delivery of a Prevention Program in Large College Classes Compared to the control group, students who received ECALC demonstrated significant expectancy changes and reported less alcohol use at follow- ...

8. ojp.gov ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/expectancy-challenge-alcohol-literacy-curriculum-ecalc-single

Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) in reducing risky alcohol use ...

9. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.focus.20180037

Substance Use Among College Students | Focus Substance use among college students is associated with numerous negative outcomes including lower academic performance, a higher probability of unemployment ...