Smartphone-paired Breathalyzers and Loss- and Gain-framed Texts for Reducing Drinking and Driving

Summary

This project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a scalable behavioral intervention using smartphone-paired breathalyzers and text message aimed at reducing drinking and driving among individuals who report heavy drinking. All participants receive a smartphone breathalyzer to provide feedback on their estimated blood alcohol level. The intervention compares loss- and gain-framed messages that make the consequences of drinking and driving more salient to standard messages not to drink and drive.

Conditions

• Alcohol Drinking
• Alcohol Intoxication
• Alcohol Impairment
• Drive
• Driving Impaired
• Driving Under the Influence
• Behavior, Drinking

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Loss-framed text message

Participants in the intervention group will receive loss-framed text messages related to drinking and driving on days during the week with a higher likelihood of alcohol consumption (Thursday-Saturday). Loss aversion refers to people's tendency to prefer avoiding losses to acquiring equivalent gains: it's better to not lose $5 than to find $5, so the content of the messages will be related to loss of personal freedom, loss of money, and loss of future employment opportunities due to Driving Under the Influence (DUI) convictions.

BEHAVIORAL

Gain-Framed text message

Participants in the intervention group will receive gain-framed text messages related to drinking and driving on days during the week with a higher likelihood of alcohol consumption (Thursday-Saturday). Gain-framed messages have been shown to have a positive effect on preventative healthcare and include content framed in a manner that the participant gains something from taking preventative action. Message content will be related to saving lives, gaining control, and making loved ones happy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pennsylvania

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kit Delgado, MD, MS · University of Pennsylvania

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

39 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-12-21

Primary Completion

2018-04-09

Completion

2018-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations