Alcohol Biomarker Feedback for Binge Drinking

RT
KM
Overseen ByKimberly Mallett, PhD
Age: 18 - 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Penn State University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if providing young adults with feedback on their alcohol use, using a new tool alongside an existing online program, can reduce binge drinking. It examines how feedback from a wearable device that tracks alcohol levels influences drinking habits compared to using only the online program. The study seeks college students aged 18-23 who frequently drink heavily on weekends and have experienced at least one blackout in the past three months. Participants must wear a sensor for two weeks to monitor their alcohol intake. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new strategies for reducing binge drinking.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for young adults?

Research shows that the eCHECKUP TO GO program is an online tool designed to reduce risky drinking by providing personalized feedback. It helps students compare their drinking habits to others and understand potential risks. As this program focuses on information and education, no evidence suggests physical harm from its use.

Additionally, the new part of the treatment involves transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) feedback, which uses a sensor to inform students about their alcohol use. The trial is testing the practicality of this new addition. Since it centers on feedback rather than physical treatment, no direct evidence indicates negative effects. It is expected to be well-tolerated, as it involves monitoring and feedback.

Overall, both parts of the treatment aim to reduce alcohol consumption through information, without medication or invasive methods, suggesting a low risk of physical harm.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these treatments for binge drinking because they offer a personalized approach using alcohol biomarker feedback. The eCHECKUP TO GO (eCTG) program provides individualized feedback about alcohol use patterns, which is different from standard interventions that often use a one-size-fits-all counseling method. Additionally, the combination of eCHECKUPTOGO with transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) feedback (eCTG + TAC) uses real-time data from sensors to give immediate insights into a person's drinking patterns. This method not only informs users about their alcohol consumption but also visualizes how their drinking behavior compares to safe patterns, potentially motivating safer drinking habits. These tailored interventions are promising because they address individual drinking behaviors more precisely than traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing binge drinking?

Research has shown that the eCHECKUP TO GO program, one of the interventions in this trial, helps people reduce alcohol consumption. Studies found that participants using this program reported drinking less and engaging in fewer risky drinking behaviors. The program provides personalized feedback, helping individuals understand their drinking habits and how they compare to others.

In this trial, some participants will receive eCHECKUP TO GO combined with brief personalized biomarker feedback. Early results suggest this combination might be even more effective. This feedback uses data from a wearable sensor to provide real-time information about alcohol levels, encouraging safer drinking choices. While researchers continue to study this combination, the initial findings appear promising for further reducing risky drinking behaviors.46789

Who Is on the Research Team?

KM

Kimberly Mallett, PhD

Principal Investigator

The Pennsylvania State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults who engage in binge drinking and alcohol abuse. Participants should be high-risk college students interested in examining their alcohol use behaviors. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's important to contact the study team for more details.

Inclusion Criteria

I am willing to wear a TAC sensor for 14 days.
Endorse drinking 4+/5+ (women/men) on a typical Friday or Saturday in the past 3-months
Report at least 1 alcohol-induced blackout in the past 3-months
See 1 more

Exclusion Criteria

No Internet access
I am under 18 years old.
I am not fluent in English.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive the eCHECKUP TO GO (eCTG) program and/or the eCTG + TAC feedback intervention

2 weeks
1 visit (in-person), daily virtual check-ins

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in drinking behaviors and alcohol-related consequences

6 months
2 visits (in-person) at baseline and 6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Brief Personalized Alcohol Biomarker Feedback Intervention

Trial Overview

The study tests if adding a personalized alcohol biomarker feedback (TAC feedback) to an existing online intervention (eCHECKUP TO GO or eCTG) affects drinking behavior. Participants will either receive just eCTG or eCTG with TAC feedback and will be assessed after 6 months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

2

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: eCHECKUPTOGO + brief personalized biomarker feedback intervention (eCTG + TAC)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: eCHECKUP TO GO (eCTG)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Penn State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
380
Recruited
131,000+

Citations

Efficacy of the eCHECKUP TO GO for High School Seniors

Our findings suggest that the eCHECKUP TO GO was effective in reducing perceptions of peer alcohol use, perceptions of sex-specific peer heavy episodic drinking ...

The Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO (e-CHUG)

Six post intervention follow-up measures showed significant reductions in alcohol use following the Alcohol eCHECKUP TO GO intervention compared to a ...

eCHECKUP TO GO DRINKING GAMES

These findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy of the eCHECKUP TO GO in decreasing the amount of alcohol consumed while playing ...

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the eCHECKUP TO GO ...

Conclusions: Results support the efficacy of the eCHECKUP TO GO for decreasing short-term alcohol use among seniors who are high-risk drinkers and provide ...

Personalized feedback intervention (PFI): eCHECKUP TO ...

eCHECKUP TO GO is a web-based survey that provides students with personalized feedback about their drinking patterns and how their alcohol use might affect ...

NCT07307326 | Biomarker Feedback Intervention

The goal of the study is to examine alcohol use behaviors of young adults through the use of testing the feasibility of adding an innovative ...

Key Research and Summaries

This study tested a brief, web-based personalized feedback program aimed at reducing risk factors for drinking, alcohol use, and alcohol-related consequences ...

Biomarker Feedback Intervention - MedPath

The goal of the study is to examine alcohol use behaviors of young adults through the use of testing the feasibility of adding an innovative ...

Biomarker Feedback Intervention - ClinicalTrials.Veeva

The goal of the study is to examine alcohol use behaviors of young adults through the use of testing the feasibility of adding an innovative ...