TRAC-ER Intervention to Reduce Risky Alcohol Use and HIV Risk

Summary

Ecological momentary interventions (EMI), which use phones to deliver messages to reduce alcohol use and related risk behaviors during or prior to drinking events, can help to address triggers in real-time. GPS tracking can determine when individuals visit places they have previously reported drinking or triggers to drink and then EMI messages can be delivered upon arrival to prevent risky alcohol use. A mobile app has been developed that uses GPS tracking to determine when individuals visit "risky" places and then delivers a survey asking what behaviors they engaged in while at the location.

The goal of the proposed study is to use this app to enhance the Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC) intervention by delivering messages that encourage participants to employ strategies discussed during TRAC sessions when arriving at risky places. When they leave these places, they will complete a survey and breathalyzer reading in order to collect event-level self-report and biological data on alcohol use and HIV risk. If their breathalyzer result indicates alcohol use, they will receive harm reduction messaging. It is expected that combining TRAC with EMI ("TRAC-ER") will increase effectiveness by reinforcing topics discussed during these sessions, providing in-the-moment messaging to address triggers, and collecting real-time alcohol use data.

Conditions

• Risk Behavior
• Alcohol Use Disorder
• HIV Infections

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Smartphone Based Alcohol Monitoring (SAM)

Smartphone-based alcohol monitoring (SAM) using mobile breathalyzers and surveys.

BEHAVIORAL

Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC)

The TRAC intervention focuses on increasing motivation and building skills for avoiding triggers and managing situations that encourage drinking. It requires four 30-minute sessions with a counselor using videoconferencing and mobile phones. In addition to receiving the four sessions of intervention content, participants will complete smartphone-based self-monitoring of alcohol consumption, which will be discussed during intervention sessions.

BEHAVIORAL

TRAC-ER

Ecological momentary interventions (EMI) use phones to deliver messages to reduce alcohol use and related risk behaviors during or prior to drinking events. GPS tracking can determine when individuals visit places they have previously reported drinking or triggers to drink and then EMI messages can be delivered upon arrival to prevent risky alcohol use.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

  collaborator NIH

• Yale University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Kentucky

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Carolyn Lauckner, PhD · University of Kentucky

• Trace Kershaw, PhD · Yale University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-12-09

Primary Completion

2027-05-31

Completion

2027-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations