Joint Effort App for Cannabis Use

(JOINTEFFORT Trial)

No longer recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By José Côté, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a mobile app called Joint Effort, designed to help young adults use cannabis more safely. The app provides personalized feedback and guidance, increasing users' awareness of their cannabis habits and helping them make informed decisions. Participants will either use the app or receive brief feedback and standard information about cannabis use. The trial seeks French-speaking individuals aged 18-35 who have used cannabis in the past month and own an iPhone. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance cannabis safety for young adults.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Joint Effort mobile application is safe for users?

Research shows that the Joint Effort app helps people manage their cannabis use safely. Testing has ensured its ease of use and effectiveness. Studies have found that apps like Joint Effort can help people reduce cannabis use and make better decisions about it. No reports of safety issues or harmful effects have emerged from using the app. As a mobile app, it doesn't carry the same risks as trying a new medication. Instead, it provides users with information and support to make better choices about cannabis use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Joint Effort app because it takes a fresh approach to helping young adults manage their cannabis use. Unlike traditional methods that might involve counseling or medication, this app leverages technology to enhance awareness and decision-making through personalized feedback and persuasive communication. It’s based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, which targets intention, attitude, and perceived behavioral control, offering a more tailored and interactive experience. Additionally, the optional logbook feature allows users to track their own cannabis use, making it easier to monitor progress and stay motivated.

What evidence suggests that the Joint Effort app is effective for safe cannabis use?

Research shows that the Joint Effort mobile app, a treatment in this trial, might help people better manage their cannabis use. The app offers personalized feedback and helps users track their cannabis habits, encouraging change. Studies have found that smartphone tools can help young people reduce cannabis use. Previous users found the app helpful and easy to use, suggesting it could support safe cannabis use. While the results are promising, further research is needed to confirm these findings. Another treatment arm in this trial provides brief normative feedback and standard information, serving as an active comparator. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

José Côté, PhD

Principal Investigator

Université de Montréal

Shalini Lal, PhD

Principal Investigator

Université de Montréal

Didier Jutras-Aswad, MD MSN

Principal Investigator

Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

Sylvie Cossette, PhD

Principal Investigator

Université de Montréal

Christine Genest, PhD

Principal Investigator

Université de Montréal

Judith Lapierre, PhD

Principal Investigator

Laval University

Gabrielle Pagé, PhD

Principal Investigator

Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal

Jingui Cheng, PhD

Principal Investigator

Université de Montréal

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for non-medical cannabis users aged 18-35 who have used cannabis in the last month, can understand and write French, and own an iPhone. There are no specific exclusion criteria listed.

Inclusion Criteria

I can understand, read, and write in French.

Own a smartphone (iPhone)

Be a non-medical cannabis user and have used in the last month

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Online enrollment and consent

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline questionnaire to assess initial conditions

1 week

Online questionnaire

Treatment

Participants use the Joint Effort mobile application or receive brief normative feedback and standard information

8 weeks

Continuous app usage

Follow-up

Participants complete follow-up questionnaires to assess changes in behavior and engagement

8 weeks

Online questionnaires at 4 and 8 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Brief normative feedback and standard information
• Joint Effort

Trial Overview The study is testing 'Joint Effort', a mobile app designed to promote safe cannabis use among consumers. Participants will receive either brief normative feedback with standard information or just the app's features.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Joint Effort mobile application Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Joint Effort mobile application aims to support young adults in taking action on their cannabis use. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the content focuses on intention, attitude, and perceived behavioral control. Various intervention methods and strategies are used to address these determinants (e.g., personalized feedback, persuasive communication, self-observation, and activation of intention). The objectives include: to allow the individual to become aware (or more aware) of their cannabis use, to support the individual's decision-making process of taking action on their cannabis use, and to guide and support the establishment and sustainability of an action plan. An optional logbook-type feature (weekly journal of cannabis use) allows personalized monitoring and data collection throughout the course of the intervention.

Group II: Brief normative feedback and standard information Active Control 1 Intervention

The comparator is composed of a brief normative feedback regarding last month's frequency of cannabis use and basic reliable non-personalized information on lower-risk cannabis use (official public websites).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

389

Recruited

143,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12235202/

A Mobile App (Joint Effort) to Support Cannabis Use Self ... This study aims to describe the development process and usability testing of Joint Effort, a CU self-management mobile app prototype centered on promoting the ...

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/388568134_Joint_Effort_a_mobile_application_to_support_cannabis_use_self-management_and_reinforce_the_use_of_protective_behavioral_strategies_development_process_and_usability_testing_Preprint

Joint Effort, a mobile application to support cannabis use ... Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) have been proven to help manage CU and reduce negative CU consequences. To date, few interventions have focused on PBS.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395924003104

Developing a mobile-based brief intervention to reduce ... Behaviour change interventions delivered via smartphones have the potential to reduce youth cannabis use and driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC).

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03681353

Impact of Reduced Cannabis Use on Functional Outcomes Nearly 20 million Americans report use of cannabis in the past month, and heavy cannabis use has increased by nearly 60% in the U.S. since 2007.

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/388655443_Acceptability_feasibility_and_outcome_responsiveness_of_the_Joint_Effort_mobile_app_for_promoting_lower-risk_cannabis_use_among_young_adults_a_pilot_randomized_controlled_trial_Preprint

a pilot randomized controlled trial (Preprint) | Request PDF Acceptability, feasibility, and outcome responsiveness of the Joint Effort mobile app for promoting lower-risk cannabis use among young adults: ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-marijuana-abuse-2023-1a00a

Joint Effort App for Cannabis Use (JOINTEFFORT Trial) The purpose of this study is to evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively a mobile application, Joint Effort, targeting safe cannabis use among consumers.This ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/392067977_Development_process_and_usability_testing_of_Joint_Effort_a_mobile_application_to_support_cannabis_use_self-management_and_reinforce_the_use_of_protective_behavioral_strategies

Development process and usability testing of Joint Effort, a ... Development process and usability testing of Joint Effort, a mobile application to support cannabis use self-management and reinforce the use of ...