TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluating the programme and behavior change theories of a community alcohol education intervention in rural Sri Lanka

T2 - a study protocol

AU - Sørensen, Jane Brandt

AU - Lee, K S Kylie

AU - Dawson, Andrew

AU - Dawson, Angela

AU - Senarathna, Lalith

AU - Pushpakumara, P H G Janaka

AU - Rajapakse, Thilini

AU - Konradsen, Flemming

AU - Glozier, Nick

AU - Conigrave, Katherine M

AU - Siriwardhana, Prabash

AU - Hansen, David

AU - Buhl, Alexandra

AU - Priyadhasana, Chamill

AU - Senawirathna, Kamal

AU - Herath, Malith

AU - Mantillake, Sudesh

AU - Fonseka, Priyantha

AU - Pearson, Melissa

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Risky alcohol use is a major public health problem globally and in Sri Lanka. While a reduction in alcohol consumption can result in physical, mental, and social benefits, behaviour change is difficult to achieve. Effective, context-adapted interventions are required to minimise alcohol-related harm at a community level. THEATRE is a complex, community-based intervention evaluating whether a promising Sri Lankan pilot study that utilised arts-based research to moderate alcohol use can be scaled up. While the scaled-up pilot study protocol is presented elsewhere, the aim of this protocol paper is to describe the intervention programme theory and evaluation design, and modifications made to the study resulting from COVID-19 and the financial crisis. Drawing on the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and Theoretical Domains Framework, behaviour change theories are presented with potential pathways to guide implementation and evaluation. Alcohol consumption patterns and context of drinking is detailed. The multifaceted intervention targets individuals and communities using arts-based interventions. Four of nine BCW functions are employed in the design of the intervention: education, persuasion, modelling and enablement, and training. Modifications made to the study due to COVID-19 and the financial crisis are described. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (ERC/2018/21-July 2018 and Feb 2022) and the University of Sydney (2019/006). Findings will be disseminated locally to community members and key stakeholders and via international peer-reviewed publications.

AB - Risky alcohol use is a major public health problem globally and in Sri Lanka. While a reduction in alcohol consumption can result in physical, mental, and social benefits, behaviour change is difficult to achieve. Effective, context-adapted interventions are required to minimise alcohol-related harm at a community level. THEATRE is a complex, community-based intervention evaluating whether a promising Sri Lankan pilot study that utilised arts-based research to moderate alcohol use can be scaled up. While the scaled-up pilot study protocol is presented elsewhere, the aim of this protocol paper is to describe the intervention programme theory and evaluation design, and modifications made to the study resulting from COVID-19 and the financial crisis. Drawing on the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and Theoretical Domains Framework, behaviour change theories are presented with potential pathways to guide implementation and evaluation. Alcohol consumption patterns and context of drinking is detailed. The multifaceted intervention targets individuals and communities using arts-based interventions. Four of nine BCW functions are employed in the design of the intervention: education, persuasion, modelling and enablement, and training. Modifications made to the study due to COVID-19 and the financial crisis are described. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (ERC/2018/21-July 2018 and Feb 2022) and the University of Sydney (2019/006). Findings will be disseminated locally to community members and key stakeholders and via international peer-reviewed publications.

KW - Humans

KW - Sri Lanka/epidemiology

KW - Pilot Projects

KW - Health Education

KW - Behavior Therapy

KW - COVID-19/prevention & control

U2 - 10.1080/16549716.2023.2273625

DO - 10.1080/16549716.2023.2273625

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37971492

VL - 16

JO - Global Health Action

JF - Global Health Action

SN - 1654-9716

IS - 1

M1 - 2273625

ER -