Examining an Online Self-Assessment Tool for Substance Use
Madeleine Paige
10.4225/03/58507f0b3f3ec
https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/thesis/Examining_an_Online_Self-Assessment_Tool_for_Substance_Use/4315064
<p> Problematic
substance use is an issue of significant public health concern, yet
help-seeking remains low, due to barriers such as stigma and exclusion and a
lack of information and knowledge about services. Increasingly, people are
seeking help online, which provides substance users with an opportunity to
gather information with protection from stigma and exclusion. Online substance
use self-assessments with personalised feedback and referral options are
showing promise in filling the treatment gap as well as engaging those who
might not otherwise seek help, and allowing them to self-select an appropriate
treatment pathway. They also could have the potential to highlight particular
at-risk subgroups. An online self-assessment for substance use was made
available on two prominent Australian AOD service websites with minimal
marketing or promotion. Over 3,200 people voluntarily completed the online
self-assessment from December 2012 until June 2015. This thesis examined
characteristics of online help-seekers and their perceptions of helpfulness of
the tool. We then identified predictors of a reported transition from
enhancement motives for substance use to the more problematic coping motives.
Finally, we examined intentions for future help-seeking following the feedback.
The sample was generally high in substance use severity, but appeared to be
high functioning, indicating an early-intervention population. The majority
found the tool to be helpful, and reported that the tool confirmed their
suspicions that their substance use was problematic, and provided them with new
levels of insight. The transition from enhancement to coping was three times
more common than the reverse direction. Significant predictors of this
transition were being female (p = .02) and under 25 (p = .03), with high levels
of psychological distress (p < .001). Almost all participants intended to
take some sort of action (95.9%) following the screen. Intention to do
‘nothing’ was low (4.1%) and had an inverse relationship to AOD symptom severity,
indicating that those concerned about their substance use were sufficiently
relieved by the feedback to cease unnecessary help-seeking. Women were more
likely to intend to seek anonymous forms of help (e.g. online), and men were
more likely to intend to seek help face-to-face, which supports existing
evidence that women experience increased stigma and exclusion in AOD treatment.
These findings can help inform the development of such online tools, and
highlight their importance as a cost-effective early-intervention and referral
to treatment for those who might not otherwise seek help.</p>
2016-12-13 23:06:48
Substance use
Drugs
Alcohol
Online
Screening
Feedback
Early intervention
Clinical Psychology