Web-based alcohol intervention for Māori university students: double-blind, multi-site randomised controlled trial

Aims: Like many indigenous peoples, New Zealand Māori bear a heavy burden of alcohol-related harm relative to their non-indigenous compatriots, and disparaties are greatest among young adults. We tested the effectiveness of web-based alcohol screening and brief intervention (e-SBI) for reducing hazardous drinking among Māori university students. Design: Parallel, double-blind, multi-site, randomised controlled trial. Setting: Seven of New Zealand's eight universities. Participants: In April 2010, we sent e-mail invitations to all 6,697 17-24 year-old Māori students to complete a brief web questionnaire including the AUDIT-C, a screening tool for hazardous and harmful drinking. Intervention: Those screening positive were computer randomised to: