The UniVenture Program

Summary

UniVenture is a research partnership with one common goal: to adapt, test, and begin sharing an effective, sustainable, targeted wellness program to tackle the timely social issue of heavy drinking and other substance misuse on Canadian campuses. Our project is a 5-year, multi-site, controlled study involving 1st and 2nd year undergraduates at 5 representatively diverse Canadian university sites (Dalhousie University, St. Francis Xavier University, York University, Université de Montréal, and University of British Columbia-Okanagan). The investigator will test a program targeting personality traits linked to substance misuse. An earlier version of this program led to marked reductions in substance use and distress in adolescents. Our novel objectives are to examine the program's effects on substance use and distress among emerging adults; uptake of prescription drug use given the opioid crisis; and undergraduates' academic success. The investigator will carry out a randomized controlled trail in which two versions of the program will be assessed: a face-to-face and an innovative and accessible technology-assisted distance-delivery format, both compared to normal campus services alone. UniVenture may potentially have a dramatic effect on university policies on the prevention of substance misuse on Canadian campuses by helping partners appreciate the effectiveness of targeted and personalized approaches, and leveraging partners' expansive networks to inform other Canadian universities. A successful technology-assisted distance-delivered program will provide universities with an effective, relatively low-cost, and accessible tool to intervene with risky substance use behaviors in undergraduates. A successful program for at-risk students will also profoundly impact their academic performance and goal achievement, as well as their lives beyond university. Our partnership will impact knowledge sharing and student training opportunities. With a diversity of academic and non-academic partners and an integrative knowledge sharing approach, the investigator will share results with many audiences throughout the project. The academic researchers have recognized expertise in training and mentoring students. Further, trainees will be exposed to many opportunities and settings both inside and outside of the university in which to apply their research skills to substance misuse prevention.

Conditions

• Anxiety Sensitivity
• Hopelessness
• Sensation Seeking
• Impulsivity

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

UniVenture Hopelessness manual

Intended for those who score at least 0.5 standard deviation (SD) above the population-specific norm on Hopelessness (HOP) personality traits on the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS).

BEHAVIORAL

UniVenture Anxiety Sensitivity manual

Intended for those who score at least 0.5 standard deviation (SD) above the population-specific norm on Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) personality traits on the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS).

BEHAVIORAL

UniVenture Sensation Seeking manual

Intended for those who score at least 0.5 standard deviation (SD) above the population-specific norm on Sensation Seeking (SS) personality traits on the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS)

BEHAVIORAL

UniVenture Impulsivity manual

Intended for those who score at least 0.5 standard deviation (SD) above the population-specific norm on Impulsivity (IMP) personality traits on the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS).

BEHAVIORAL

Service as usual provided by the University

It is the regular university-provided well-being services.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dalhousie University

  collaborator OTHER

• St. Francis Xavier University

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Université de Montréal

  collaborator OTHER

• York University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of British Columbia

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Victoria

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse

  collaborator OTHER

• Injury Free Nova Scotia (IFNS)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Postsecondary Education Partnership - Alcohol Harms (PEP-AH)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Strategy for Patient Orientated Research

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• SHARP- Students for Healthy Alternatives & Risk Prevention

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Nova Scotia Health Authority

  collaborator OTHER

• Sherry Stewart

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sherry H Stewart · Dalhousie University

• Patricia Conrod · Université de Montréal

• Kara Thompson · St. Francis Xavier University

• Matthew T Keough · York University

• Marvin Krank · University of British Columbia- Okanagan

• Allyson Hadwin · University of Victoria

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-11

Primary Completion

2024-02-08

Completion

2024-07-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations