Helping Problem Drinkers on the Internet

Alcohol Dependence Clinical Trial

Official title:

Helping Problem Drinkers on the Internet

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01114919
• Other study ID #: 282/2009
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: April 30, 2010
• Last updated: December 1, 2010
• Start date: May 2010

Study information

• Verified date: December 2010
• Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Canada: Health Canada
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The main aim of this study is to compare the impact of a minimal and a full Internet-based self-help intervention for problem drinkers in the general population.

Description:

Many problem drinkers never access any treatment services. Because of the individual as well as societal costs of heavy alcohol consumption, it is essential to find ways to intervene and provide assistance to problem drinkers. The Internet takes treatment to problem drinkers rather than requiring them to come to treatment, resulting in increased options for help for alcohol abusers. There is a preponderance of internet websites which are designed for self change in areas that include alcohol use. To date, however, there has been minimal scientific evaluation regarding the efficacy and safety of such programs.

Our own previous research found that we could reduce alcohol consumption by about three drinks per week at a six-month follow-up using a minimal, personalized feedback Internet-based intervention. Building on this, the current project will attempt to increase the impact of Internet-based interventions as well as produce sustained reductions in drinking by adding an extended online self-help service to this already promising minimal intervention. More specifically, this randomized, double blinded study will compare and evaluate the efficacy of two different degrees of treatment intervention for problem drinkers: a minimal one ("Check your Drinking") and a full one ("Alcohol Help Centre").

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 246
• Est. primary completion date: November 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 19 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Resident of Ontario

• 19 years of age or over

• Have consumed alcohol in the one month prior to the telephone survey.

• Have consumed alcohol in the one month prior to the telephone survey.

• A score of 8 or over on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

• Indicate an interest in receiving self-help materials

• Have home access to the Internet

• Are willing to participate in follow-up at six and twelve month intervals

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alcohol Dependence
• Alcoholism

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Check Your Drinking (CYD)
Internet based program of lower intensity as compared to the "Alcohol Help Centre. It was designed to assesses drinking patterns, increase self-awareness of individual triggers, and set and achieve goals regarding abstinence.
• Alcohol Help Centre (AHC)
Internet based program of higher intensity as compared to the "Check Your Drinking" intervention. It was designed to assesses drinking patterns, increase self-awareness of individual triggers, and set and achieve goals regarding abstinence.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Canada	Centre for Addiction and Mental Health	Toronto	Ontario

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health	Health Canada

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Canada, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Frequency of consumption		6 months and 12 months	No
Primary	Usual number of drinks per occasion		6 months and 12 months	No
Primary	Frequency of consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion		6 months and 12 months	No
Primary	Typical weekly consumption		6 months and 12 months	No
Primary	Highest number of drinks on one occasion		6 months and 12 months	No

External Links

•   Information about research at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre.