Web-based interventions for treatment-seeking individuals with hazardous alcohol consumption: analysis of clinical characteristics and motives for abstinence.

This study compares individuals with hazardous alcohol use who engaged with the web-based intervention "Ohne Alkohol mit Nathalie" (OAMN) to those relying solely on traditional support methods. Among 2,474 treatment-seeking participants with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores ≥8, OAMN users were predominantly well-educated women, had lower AUDIT scores, and reported fewer psychiatric comorbidities than non-OAMN users. Approximately one-third of OAMN participants used the program exclusively, while others combined it with traditional treatments. Both groups identified intrinsic motives—especially improving well-being and autonomy—as primary drivers for abstinence, with OAMN users emphasizing these internal motivations more, whereas non-OAMN users more frequently cited extrinsic motives such as external expectations and fear. These findings highlight differences in user characteristics and motivations between digital and traditional alcohol support interventions, informing future tailoring of treatment approaches.