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Relational Agent for Alcohol Screening and Treatment

NCT02030288 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 178

Last updated 2020-10-01

Study results available
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Summary

This project will involve the development and initial evaluation of a promising computer-based intervention to improve the primary care management of risky alcohol use among Veterans. The intervention uses a Relational Agent, an on-screen "person" that establishes a relationship with the Veteran to promote positive health behaviors. This study will determine how Veterans interact with this system, how it can be tailored to Veterans' preferences, and its potential effect on risky drinking. If ultimately proven effective, the Relational Agent will have several impacts on Veterans and their health care, including:

* (1) lower rates of risky drinking in Veterans
* (2) improved rates of brief counseling for Veterans with excessive alcohol use
* (3) increased proportion of Veterans referred to Mental Health for alcohol disorders
* (4) improved care for Veterans with low levels of health literacy.

This study directly supports Secretary Shinseki's Transformational Initiative to employ state-of-the-art information technology to improve quality and access of Veterans' health care.

Conditions

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Relational Agent Intervention

Relational Agents are on-screen characters that speak to the patient and establish a "relationship" with them. They have been used to improve several health behaviors including diet and exercise, and can overcome communication barriers related to low levels of computer literacy. The Relational Agent can be placed on a desktop or tablet computer with a touch screen, on which patients indicate their responses. Using Motivational Interviewing and behavior change principles, the Relational Agent guides patients to consider change.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Northeastern University

    collaborator OTHER

  • Boston University

    collaborator OTHER

  • VA Office of Research and Development

    lead FED

Principal Investigators

  • Steven R Simon, MD MPH BS · VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-02-19
Primary Completion
2018-10-23
Completion
2018-10-23

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02030288 on ClinicalTrials.gov