Faculty Collaboration Database

A randomized pilot trial of a mobile delivered brief motivational interviewing and behavioral economic alcohol intervention for emerging adults. Psychol Addict Behav 2023 May;37(3):462-474

Date

04/29/2022

Pubmed ID

35482647

Pubmed Central ID

PMC9614412

DOI

10.1037/adb0000838

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85130776399 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   19 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Mobile health (mHealth) interventions show potential to broaden the reach of efficacious alcohol brief motivational interventions (BMIs). However, efficacy is mixed and may be limited by low participant attention and engagement. The present study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a live text-message delivered BMI in a pilot randomized clinical trial.

METHOD: Participants were 66 college students (63.6% women; 61.9% White; M_age = 19.95, SD = 1.66) reporting an average of 11.88 (SD = 8.74) drinks per week, 4.42 (SD = 3.59) heavy drinking episodes (HDEs), and 8.44 (SD = 5.62) alcohol-related problems in the past month. Participants were randomized to receive either (a) education or (b) an alcohol BMI plus behavioral economic substance-free activity session (SFAS), each followed by 4 weeks of mini sessions. All sessions were administered via live text-message. Participants completed assessments postintervention (after the 4th mini session) and at 3-month follow-up.

RESULTS: 90.9% completed both initial full-length sessions and at least two of the four mini sessions with 87.9% retention at 3-month follow-up. Participants found the interventions useful, interesting, relevant, and effective, with no between-group differences. There were no statistically significant group differences in drinks per week or alcohol-related problems at follow-up, but BMI + SFAS participants reported fewer past-month HDEs than those who received education.

CONCLUSIONS: Live text-messaging to deliver the BMI + SFAS is feasible and well-received. The preliminary efficacy results should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size but support further investigation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Author List

Gex KS, Mun EY, Barnett NP, McDevitt-Murphy ME, Ruggiero KJ, Thurston IB, Olin CC, Voss AT, Withers AJ, Murphy JG

Author

Cecilia C. Olin PhD, MS Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Alcohol-Related Disorders
Behavior Therapy
Economics, Behavioral
Ethanol
Female
Humans
Male
Motivation
Motivational Interviewing
Pilot Projects
Young Adult