Two Consecutive Randomized Controlled Trials Using Mobile Phone Applications for Risky Alcohol Use

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of three mobile phone applications, Promillekoll, PartyPlanner and TeleCoach among university student union members with problematic drinking. Two trials are conducted, one a three-armed randomized controlled study, and the second a two-armed randomized control study. Outcomes are measured in terms of changes in problematic alcohol use at follow up 6,12 and 18 weeks after baseline data gathering. Both the Promillekoll and PartyPlanner apps feature real time registration of alcohol consumption and give feedback of estimated blood alcohol concentration levels. PartyPlanner also allows for planning an alcohol consumption event in advance and for later comparison of the plan with actual consumption. Study 1 compares these two apps with a control group. In Study 2, participants reporting alcohol consumption above the weekly recommended level are redirected to randomized assignment to an in-depth app, TeleCoach, which offers different exercises for reducing alcohol use. After 6 weeks the controls are offered the TeleCoach intervention for 6 weeks, and the first intervention group loses app access. In both studies, followup occurs 6, 12 and 18 weeks after baseline registration.

Hypotheses:

Study 1: 1. The groups receiving the Promillekoll and PartyPlanner interventions will reduce their alcohol use to a larger extent than the control group at follow-up compared to the baseline level. 2. The planning function in PartyPlanner will be associated with an increased decrease in alcohol consumption compared to only real-time use for Promillekoll.

Study 2: The proportion of participants with risky use above recommended levels will decline faster in the group that receives the intervention first, in comparison to controls.

Conditions

• Binge Drinking
• Problematic AOD Use

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Promillekoll

Smartphone app monitoring alcohol use with feedback on eBAC level.

BEHAVIORAL

PartyPlanner

Smartphone-adapted web-based app for simulating an event with alcohol consumption in advance, real time monitoring of alcohol use with eBAC feedback during the event and later possibility of comparison between the plan and the event.

BEHAVIORAL

TeleCoach

Smartphone app providing exercises and vignettes for reducing or abstaining from alcohol consumption.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karolinska Institutet

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Anne H Berman, PhD · Karolinska Institutet

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-09-30

Primary Completion

2015-03-31

Completion

2015-03-31

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations