Mobile Health App for Alcoholism

Overseen By Alice Pulvermacher

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

558 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a smartphone app to help people with alcohol use disorder reduce their drinking. The app offers tools, support from friends or healthcare professionals, and personalized advice to help users manage their drinking habits.

Research Team

Andrew Quanbeck, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults over 21 within the UW Health system area who want to cut down on drinking, meet criteria for risky alcohol use, own a smartphone, and are willing to use the A-CHESS app. It's not for those with severe alcohol disorders, current psychosis, immediate hospitalization needs or terminal illness.

Inclusion Criteria

meets the criteria for at risk drinking on the AUDIT screening

be able to understand and sign an electronic consent form in English

You have an Apple or Android smartphone.

Exclusion Criteria

You currently have a mental illness that causes you to lose touch with reality.

have an acute medical problem requiring immediate hospitalization

You have a severe problem with drinking too much alcohol (more than 6 items on a diagnostic test called the AUD).

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

72 hours

Run-in

Participants undergo a 72-hour run-in period before randomization

72 hours

Intervention

Participants receive access to the mHealth system with different implementation strategies based on group assignment

12 weeks

Weekly virtual check-ins via app

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention period

9 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• A-CHESS clinically-integrated
• A-CHESS peer-supported
• A-CHESS self-monitored

Trial Overview The study tests three ways of using the A-CHESS mobile app in helping people with alcohol use disorder: self-monitored use; peer-supported monitoring; and clinical integration with a health coach. Participants will be divided into these groups randomly.

Participant Groups

Group I: Peer supported Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients will be asked to take the same surveys and have the access to the same information as the self-monitoring group. Patient subjects in this group will have access to discussion boards where they can talk to one another and have the ability to share and see stories of other patients. The only involvement of someone other than patients themselves in the peer-supported group will be by a sponsor (i.e., a dedicated user from the area with a sustained history of successful alcohol reduction). The sponsor will participate in discussion groups and encourage use of the system. Patient-reported feedback will be presented directly to the patient.

Group II: Clinically integrated Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients in the clinically integrated group will receive the same intervention as the peer-supported group aside from three differences: 1) patients have the option to share selected elements of their app data with the University of Wisconsin (UW) Health health coach, 2) the health coach will replace the role of the sponsor in the peer-support group, and 3) patients will have the option to attend an initial 60- to 90-minute and two 30-minute follow-up consultations with the health coach in-person, via phone, or via video chat.

Group III: Self monitored Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients of this group will continue receiving regular care from their physician with no interference from the two experimental groups. Patient subjects will download the app on their Android or Apple smart phone that will direct them to external information hosted on the internet that may help reduce their drinking (e.g., NIAAA resources). For the first 12 weeks, once a week patients can set a weekly goal related to their alcohol use or other health related behaviors (e.g., "I will only drink on Friday this week."). At the end of the week subjects will be prompted to take a weekly survey, which will include questions such as a variation of the brief alcohol monitor (BAM) and timeline followback. Patients will then receive feedback on the amount of drinks they had compared to their goal. Then the patient will set a new goal for the following week. Patients will complete quarterly surveys on the A-CHESS app to assess study outcomes.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+