Efficacy of a Mobile Phone-Based Life-Skills Training Program for Addiction Prevention Optimized Among Adolescents...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Substance Use Prevention

Background:

• Previous studies showed SmartCoach, a mobile life-skills program, was effective for adolescent addiction prevention.
• Social factors like education and migration background were linked to lower engagement.
• Program elements were optimized using qualitative data to address engagement disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test if an optimized SmartCoach program version is superior to the original in efficacy and use.
• To determine if enhanced tailoring increases program efficacy and engagement in adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A 2-arm, double-blind, cluster-randomized trial compared optimized vs. original SmartCoach.
• Participants received weekly SMS messages over 4 months focusing on self-management skills.
• Optimized version included tailored content for non-native German speakers and simplified language.

Main Results:

• Program use was similar between groups (12.6 vs. 12.5 activities completed).
• No significant differences were found in alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis use between groups.
• No significant differences were observed in perceived stress or social skills.

Conclusions:

• The optimized program version did not demonstrate improved use or efficacy.
• Minor program differences and low substance use prevalence may have limited statistical power.
• Further research is needed to enhance digital interventions for diverse adolescent populations.