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A systematic literature review of alcohol education programmes in middle and high school settings (2000-2014)

Timo Dietrich (Social Marketing @ Griffith, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Sharyn Rundle-Thiele (Social Marketing @ Griffith, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia)
Lisa Schuster (QUT Business School, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia)
Jason P. Connor (Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research and Discipline of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia)

Health Education

ISSN: 0965-4283

Article publication date: 4 January 2016

1502

Abstract

Purpose

Social marketing benchmark criteria were used to understand the extent to which single-substance alcohol education programmes targeting adolescents in middle and high school settings sought to change behaviour, utilised theory, included audience research and applied the market segmentation process. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review retrieved a total of 1,495 identified articles; 565 duplicates were removed. The remaining 930 articles were then screened. Articles detailing formative research or programmes targeting multiple substances, parents, families and/or communities, as well as elementary schools and universities were excluded. A total of 31 articles, encompassing 16 qualifying programmes, were selected for detailed evaluation.

Findings

The majority of alcohol education programmes were developed on the basis of theory and achieved short- and medium-term behavioural effects. Importantly, most programmes were universal and did not apply the full market segmentation process. Limited audience research in the form of student involvement in programme design was identified.

Research limitations/implications

This systematic literature review focused on single-substance alcohol education programmes targeted at middle and high school student populations, retrieving studies back to the year 2000.

Originality/value

The results of this systematic literature review indicate that application of the social marketing benchmark criteria of market segmentation and audience research may represent an avenue for further extending alcohol education programme effectiveness in middle and high school settings.

Keywords

Citation

Dietrich, T., Rundle-Thiele, S., Schuster, L. and Connor, J.P. (2016), "A systematic literature review of alcohol education programmes in middle and high school settings (2000-2014)", Health Education, Vol. 116 No. 1, pp. 50-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-03-2014-0042

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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