Expanding the uSafeUS Mobile App to Reduce Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault on College Campuses
University of Florida
Summary
The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of an innovative mobile application (uSafeUS+) to reduce college student drinking and sexual assault (SA) risk in real time. Following an initial period of app development, this study will use a pilot 3-arm randomized controlled trial (N = 90; 30/arm) to examine the acceptability, feasibility, and initial evidence of efficacy of the novel, expanded uSafeUS+ app, relative to the existing SA-only focused uSafeUS app (already in use on 24 college campuses), and an assessment-only control condition. Specifically, the investigators aim to answer the following research questions: 1. Do students like the app (overall and specific features)? 2. How frequently do students use the app within the 1-month exposure period? 3. What barriers and facilitators impact app use? 4. Is there evidence of increased use of protective behaviors on drinking days and over time? 5. Is there evidence of decreased drinking (amount, frequency) or SA risk on drinking days and over time? Participants will complete: * A baseline assessment * A 1-month app exposure period with daily surveys about app use on the weekends * Follow-up surveys at 1- and 2-months post-intervention.
Description
Over 75% of campus sexual assaults involve alcohol, yet existing campus alcohol and SA prevention efforts designed for universal delivery are often siloed and limited in their ability to provide students with in-the-moment assistance to reduce risk. Smartphone apps are an integral part of college student life and are increasingly used to engage students in real-time alcohol prevention; however, none have integrated alcohol and sexual assault prevention into a single cross-cutting tool. This study addresses this gap by expanding a promising campus sexual assault prevention and response app (uSa…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years old; * Currently enrolled as a residential undergraduate student at a participating university; * Intend to reside on or near (in the same town) campus over the two-month study period * Own a smartphone/mobile device; * Have consumed at least one alcoholic beverage per week or engaged in dating or social behaviors where alcohol is present at least once a week over the past 30 days; * Intend to drink or go out at the same frequency (at least weekly) over the two-month study period Exclusion Criteria: * Unable or u…
Interventions
- BehavioraluSafeUS+
uSafeUS app
- BehavioraluSafeUS
uSafeUS app
Location
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida