Randomized Trial of a Smartphone App Designed to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Smartphone apps targeting alcohol consumption are increasingly employed as a means to help people reduce their alcohol consumption. Recognizing this potential, there has been an explosion of app development for unhealthy alcohol use, as well as other health-related behaviours. This study will recruit people who consume alcohol in an unhealthy manner. Participants will be assigned by chance to one of two groups and will be contacted 6 months after consenting to the study to assess changes in their drinking. In addition, this study will help us understand which components of the smartphone app are important to use in order to promote reductions in alcohol consumption. An app with proven efficacy, made widely available and free-of-charge to Canadians, will provide a much needed option to help those in need to reduce their alcohol use.

Clinical Trial Description

Unhealthy alcohol use is common and causes tremendous harm. Most people with unhealthy alcohol use will never seek formal alcohol treatment. As an alternative, smartphone apps have been developed as one means to provide help to people concerned about their alcohol use. While such apps are widely available, the large majority have little or no evidence base, and research has indicated that some may actually do more harm than good. An app with proven efficacy at reducing alcohol consumption is needed in order to capitalize on this opportunity to motivate the large number of people seeking assistance using this promising technology. This study will recruit people who consume alcohol in an unhealthy manner. Participants will be assigned by chance to one of two groups to either receive access to: 1) the full app; or 2) a copy of the app where only the educational content is provided (as opposed to the full intervention content of the app). Participants will be contacted 6 months after consenting to the study to assess changes in their drinking. We predict that the full app will lead to larger reductions in drinking and a more sustained impact than the educational content only app. In addition, this study will help us understand which components of the smartphone app are important to use in order to promote reductions in alcohol consumption. ;

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

Clinical Trial Details

NCT number	NCT04745325
Study type	Interventional
Source	Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Contact
Status	Completed
Phase	N/A
Start date	May 27, 2021
Completion date	April 30, 2023

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Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.

Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.

Randomized Trial of a Smartphone App Designed to Reduce Unhealthy Alcohol Consumption

Clinical Trial Summary

Clinical Trial Description

Study Design

Related Conditions & MeSH terms