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Mobile phone text message intervention to reduce binge drinking among young adults: study protocol for a randomized
Brian Suffoletto1, Clifton W Callaway, Jeffrey Kristan
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Iroquois Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. suffbp@upmc.edu
Trials
|April 5, 2013
Summary
This study tested mobile phone text messaging to reduce binge drinking in young adults. The program showed potential for immediate and lasting reductions in hazardous alcohol consumption.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Digital Health
Background:
- Heavy episodic (binge) drinking is prevalent among young adults, often leading to injury and illness.
- Emergency Departments (EDs) are key points for identifying at-risk young adults for interventions.
- Mobile phone text messaging (SMS) offers a viable communication channel for behavioral support in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of an SMS-based intervention for reducing binge drinking in young adults.
- To assess the impact of feedback and assessment reactivity in SMS interventions.
- To explore mechanisms of change in reducing hazardous alcohol consumption.
Main Methods:
- A three-arm randomized trial involving adults aged 18-25 screened for hazardous alcohol use in EDs.
- Intervention arms included weekly SMS drinking assessments with feedback (SA+F), without feedback (SA), or a control group.
- Primary outcome: binge drinking days; secondary outcome: alcohol-related injury, assessed over 3, 6, and 9 months.
Main Results:
- The study is designed to test the hypothesis of reduced binge drinking, but specific results are not yet available in the abstract.
- The design allows for the separation of intervention effects from assessment reactivity.
- Data collection on drinking intentions and consumption aims to elucidate the mechanisms of behavioral change.
Conclusions:
- A mobile phone text-messaging program is hypothesized to yield significant reductions in binge drinking among at-risk young adults.
- The study design will differentiate the effects of SMS intervention from assessment reactivity.
- Understanding the mechanisms of change through detailed data collection is a key objective.
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