Clinical Trial: Brief Alcohol E-Interventions Study

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Optimizing E-interventions for Alcohol Use: Do Common Factors Apply?

Brief Summary: The project seeks to develop an effective computer-delivered brief intervention to reduce alcohol use using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST). Sixteen different versions of the intervention will be tested with manipulation of common factors (empathy & positive regard), use of a voice, and use of an animated narrator. Participants will include 352 undergraduate students randomly assigned to one intervention condition; follow-up assessments will take place at one and 3 months. The main outcome will be means drink per day over the past 30 day.

Detailed Summary: The proposed project seeks to develop a maximally effective computer-delivered brief intervention (CDBI) for reducing heavy alcohol use. To accomplish this, we will use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), an efficient method for optimizing intervention content, beginning with factorial designs evaluating main and interaction effects of specific intervention components. Our selection of components will be guided by: (a) Common Factors Theory, which highlights the tremendous contribution of non-specific factors, such as empathy and positive regard, to therapy outcomes, but which is of unknown relevance to CDBIs; and (b) Media Equation Theory, which suggests that people automatically respond to computers in social ways, particularly when those computers replicate human characteristics. To accomplish these goals, we will examine outcomes of computer-delivered brief interventions in which common factors (empathy & positive regard), use of a voice, and use of an animated narrator are systematically manipulated using a factorial design. We will also systematically manipulate the presence vs. absence of motivational content in order to examine possible interactions between common factors and specific motivational techniques. Participants will be 352 undergraduates who are randomly assigned to 1 of 16 intervention conditions. Mean drinks per day over the past 30 days will be measured at 1 and 3-month follow-ups. Secondary analyses will also examine past month heavy drinking days, alcohol-related consequences, and intention to reduce alcohol use. We hypothesize that there will be significant main effects for (1) the factor consistent with Common Factors Theory (empathy and positive regard), (2) the two factors consistent with Media Equation Theory (voice and narrator), and (3) the presence of motivational content. We further hypothesize that mean drinks/day will be lower when (1) the common factors (empathy, positive regard) are combined with a voice and/or narra
Sponsor: Wayne State University

Current Primary Outcome: Mean drinks per day [ Time Frame: 1 month and 3 months after baseline ]

Average of reports from past 30 days on the number of standard drinks consumed by participant over the past 30 days.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Number of heavy drinking days [ Time Frame: 1 month and 3 months after baseline ]
    Number of days participant reports drinking 4/5 (male/female) alcoholic drinks in a 2-hour period
  • Report of Alcohol Related Consequences [ Time Frame: 1 month and 3 months after baseline ]
    Participant self-report on the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire
  • Intention to reduce alcohol use [ Time Frame: 1 month and 3 months after baseline ]
    Participants self-report on the Readiness to Change Scale


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Wayne State University

Dates:
Date Received: October 31, 2016
Date Started: December 2016
Date Completion: March 2018
Last Updated: January 9, 2017
Last Verified: January 2017