Online and Text Messaging Intervention for Risky Health Behaviors

(EQUIP Trial)

Overseen By Raul A Resendiz, B.S.

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Texas Health Science Center

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Treatment for substance use, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how young adults use protective behavioral strategies (PBS) to manage alcohol and marijuana consumption. By examining motivations and barriers to using PBS, the researchers aim to enhance interventions that reduce risky behaviors and their consequences. Participants receive personalized, nonjudgmental feedback through an online and text messaging intervention. Ideal candidates are young adults in Texas who typically consume alcohol and marijuana at least twice a week and have experienced related issues. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could improve interventions for young adults facing similar challenges.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It mainly focuses on alcohol and marijuana use.

What prior data suggests that this online and text messaging intervention is safe?

Research has shown that using text messages for health support is generally safe. Studies have found that these messages can assist individuals in managing their health by sending reminders, providing information, or offering self-care support. For example, one program using interactive text messages reduced risky driving in young adults. Although specific safety data for this program is unavailable, text messages for health purposes have been well-received in many settings. No major reports of negative effects from using text messages for health support have emerged. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Online and Text Messaging Intervention for risky health behaviors because it offers a convenient, tech-savvy approach that's accessible anytime, anywhere. Unlike traditional treatments that might require in-person sessions or consultations, this intervention utilizes personalized online content and text messages to encourage safer behavior patterns. This method is non-confrontational and adapts based on the user's responses, aiming to boost motivation and educate participants on protective behavioral strategies (PBS). By integrating technology into their daily routine, participants can receive timely, personalized reminders to help manage their behaviors more effectively.

What evidence suggests that this online and text messaging intervention is effective for reducing risky health behaviors?

Research shows that sending text messages can help people reduce alcohol consumption. A review of several studies found that individuals who received text messages about drinking consumed less alcohol than those who did not receive any messages. In this trial, participants in the Online and Text Message Intervention arm will receive personalized feedback and support through text messages, which previous studies suggest can effectively reduce alcohol use among young adults. Specifically, one study found that college students who received text messages about drinking consumed less alcohol after six months. This approach might also help reduce marijuana use by promoting safer habits. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Melissa A Lewis, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults aged 18-24 living in Texas who regularly use alcohol and marijuana at least twice a week, are not seeking treatment for substance use, and have experienced related consequences recently. Participants must be open to receiving messages, own a phone capable of texting, and be willing to join online focus groups or surveys.

Inclusion Criteria

Live in Texas

Their device must meet the system requirements to participate in the online focus group or cognitive interview (have iOS 8.0 or later, Android 4.0x, or later, or have another video-enabled device) [Phase I]

I am not pregnant nor trying to become pregnant.

Exclusion Criteria

Failure to provide consent

Providing inconsistent responses (e.g., age)

Not meeting inclusion criteria

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a brief interactive online intervention focusing on self-selected alcohol and marijuana PBS messages and motives for using alcohol- and marijuana-related PBS, with content delivered via text messages three days a week over eight consecutive weekends.

8 weeks

Online intervention and text messages 3x per week

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effect sizes, with assessments including baseline, 2-month, and daily surveys.

2 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Online and Text Messaging Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests an intervention using personalized feedback through online platforms and text messaging aimed at understanding motivations behind the use or avoidance of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) by young adults when consuming alcohol or marijuana.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Online and Text Message Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to the intervention will receive a link to the online intervention following baseline completion. The online and Text Message intervention, and its delivery, will be designed and adapted based on the results of the formative focus groups and cognitive interviews and is meant to be non-confrontational in tone, seeks to increase motivation to increase the quality use of PBS and decrease motivations for non-use of PBS. Intervention participants will receive personalized PBS Text Messages 3x per week (based on self-selections from the interactive online intervention) for 8 consecutive weeks timed to occur on a random weekday as well as Friday and Saturday.

Group II: Assessment Only Control Active Control 1 Intervention

The assessment only control condition will not receive any intervention content during the 8-week period of data collection, but will complete baseline, 2-month, and daily surveys according to the same schedule as the intervention group in order to assess event-level PBS use, PBS non-use, alcohol and marijuana use, CAM and SAM use, and related consequences for up to 24 days over an 8-week period.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Texas Health Science Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

41

Recruited

20,800+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8247265/

Text messaging interventions for reducing alcohol ... We aimed to estimate the effects of text messaging interventions on alcohol consumption among risky drinkers. Methods. Systematic review and meta‐analysis of ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2817487

A Brief Intervention With Instant Messaging or Regular Text ... This randomized clinical trial compares reductions in alcohol consumption among university students at risk of alcohol use disorder 6 months ...

3. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e65187

Text Messaging Interventions for Unhealthy Alcohol Use in ... A meta-analysis and study indicated that alcohol-targeted texting interventions reduced alcohol consumption compared with no intervention, ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03401333

NCT03401333 | Brief Interventions With Text Messaging to ... This study tests the feasibility of an intervention to prevent risky alcohol or marijuana use that adds a 4-week course of tailored text messaging to a brief ...

5. elischolar.library.yale.edu elischolar.library.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1843&context=ysphtdl

Feasibility Of Augmenting Brief Interventions With Text ... This pilot study aimed to test the feasibility of a novel health intervention that adds a 4-week series of text messaging to the Brief Negotiation Interview. ( ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11688580/

25 Years of Text Messaging in Health - PMC Text messaging is still being used in largely the same way to deliver health information, behavior change interventions, and support.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796725001123

Effects of text message reminders of safety behavior ... These findings suggest that while a reduction in safety behaviors is linked to reductions in health anxiety, simply text messaging reminders to reduce safety ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10943751/

mHealth intervention including text messaging and ... Text message-based mHealth interventions are commonly used in health promotion and have shown effects in promoting physical activity. Studies on text message- ...

9. countyhealthrankings.org countyhealthrankings.org/strategies-and-solutions/what-works-for-health/strategies/text-message-based-health-interventions

Text message-based health interventions Text message-based health interventions provide patients with reminders, education, or self-management assistance for a broad spectrum of health conditions.

10. jahonline.org jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(22)00464-5/fulltext

Effectiveness of a Text Message Intervention to Reduce ... An interactive text message intervention was more effective at reducing self-reported TWD among young adults than assessment control at 12 weeks.