Ahmad A Kittaneh, Natasha K Sidhu, Jackson T Jin, Samantha G Cassidy, William V Lechner
{"title":"Efficacy and usability of a mobile application developed to moderate alcohol use in real time.","authors":"Ahmad A Kittaneh, Natasha K Sidhu, Jackson T Jin, Samantha G Cassidy, William V Lechner","doi":"10.15288/jsad.24-00331","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to adverse consequences including physical and mental health problems. While there are many empirically supported cognitive and behavioral therapies for alcohol use disorder, the most widely available in person treatments focus on abstinence rather than moderation. Moderation strategies are historically less common and are typically reported to be less effective, despite moderation being a common primary goal. Additionally, most individuals with alcohol related problems will never seek formal assistance from a healthcare provider. Technology-delivered interventions that focus on moderation strategies address several treatment needs.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We developed and tested the initial efficacy and usability of a mobile application focused on improving alcohol moderation via real time pacing of consumption. Participants (n=59) were randomized to use the experimental application, or conversely, moderation strategies proposed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism including a drink tracking card. Participants provided follow-up data regarding their alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences over a fourteen-day period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample reported statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. However, the effect of experimental condition was not significant. Additionally, participants reported descriptive feedback regarding their user experience. Participants' ratings revealed significantly lower satisfaction and ease of understanding of the experimental application as compared to participant's ratings of their use of the drink tracking card in the control condition.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results indicate specific revisions to the design and further evaluation of barriers to successful moderation to increase the efficacy of the mobile application examined.</p><p><p>The current study provided initial evidence of the effectiveness of a mobile application aiming to moderate alcohol use. These findings can inform future studies aiming to provide mobile application interventions to individuals wanting immediate assistance to moderate their use without the help of a healthcare professional.</p>","PeriodicalId":17159,"journal":{"name":"Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.24-00331","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to adverse consequences including physical and mental health problems. While there are many empirically supported cognitive and behavioral therapies for alcohol use disorder, the most widely available in person treatments focus on abstinence rather than moderation. Moderation strategies are historically less common and are typically reported to be less effective, despite moderation being a common primary goal. Additionally, most individuals with alcohol related problems will never seek formal assistance from a healthcare provider. Technology-delivered interventions that focus on moderation strategies address several treatment needs.
Method: We developed and tested the initial efficacy and usability of a mobile application focused on improving alcohol moderation via real time pacing of consumption. Participants (n=59) were randomized to use the experimental application, or conversely, moderation strategies proposed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism including a drink tracking card. Participants provided follow-up data regarding their alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences over a fourteen-day period.
Results: The sample reported statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. However, the effect of experimental condition was not significant. Additionally, participants reported descriptive feedback regarding their user experience. Participants' ratings revealed significantly lower satisfaction and ease of understanding of the experimental application as compared to participant's ratings of their use of the drink tracking card in the control condition.
Conclusions: Results indicate specific revisions to the design and further evaluation of barriers to successful moderation to increase the efficacy of the mobile application examined.
The current study provided initial evidence of the effectiveness of a mobile application aiming to moderate alcohol use. These findings can inform future studies aiming to provide mobile application interventions to individuals wanting immediate assistance to moderate their use without the help of a healthcare professional.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs began in 1940 as the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol. It was founded by Howard W. Haggard, M.D., director of Yale University’s Laboratory of Applied Physiology. Dr. Haggard was a physiologist studying the effects of alcohol on the body, and he started the Journal as a way to publish the increasing amount of research on alcohol use, abuse, and treatment that emerged from Yale and other institutions in the years following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. In addition to original research, the Journal also published abstracts summarizing other published documents dealing with alcohol. At Yale, Dr. Haggard built a large team of alcohol researchers within the Laboratory of Applied Physiology—including E.M. Jellinek, who became managing editor of the Journal in 1941. In 1943, to bring together the various alcohol research projects conducted by the Laboratory, Dr. Haggard formed the Section of Studies on Alcohol, which also became home to the Journal and its editorial staff. In 1950, the Section was renamed the Center of Alcohol Studies.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
