Combining a Smartphone App With Medications to Manage Heavy Drinking

Description

One in 10 Veterans have an alcohol use disorder. However, few Veterans receive evidenced-based psychosocial interventions or medications to treat alcohol use disorder. Barriers to receiving these treatments include long wait times, stigma, and long distances from treatment facilities. Even fewer Veterans receive psychosocial and medication interventions together, despite clinical practice guidelines recommending both and evidence of better outcomes. Expanding access to these treatments in primary care is a VA priority but delivering psychosocial interventions is difficult in this setting, and medication is often the only option. Smartphone apps that deliver alcohol interventions may improve drinking outcomes and ensure Veterans can receive both treatments in primary care. This study will determine whether medications and an app for alcohol use problems offered to Veterans in primary care results in improved drinking outcomes, compared to Veterans receiving medications only. Study data will inform how to spread the app across the VA nationally.

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

One in 10 Veterans have an alcohol use disorder. However, few Veterans receive evidenced-based psychosocial interventions or medications to treat alcohol use disorder. Barriers to receiving these treatments include long wait times, stigma, and long distances from treatment facilities. Even fewer Veterans receive psychosocial and medication interventions together, despite clinical practice guidelines recommending both and evidence of better outcomes. Expanding access to these treatments in primary care is a VA priority but delivering psychosocial interventions is difficult in this setting, and medication is often the only option. Smartphone apps that deliver alcohol interventions may improve drinking outcomes and ensure Veterans can receive both treatments in primary care. This study will determine whether medications and an app for alcohol use problems offered to Veterans in primary care results in improved drinking outcomes, compared to Veterans receiving medications only. Study data will inform how to spread the app across the VA nationally.

Combining a Smartphone App With Medications to Manage Heavy Drinking

Combining a Smartphone App With Medications to Manage Heavy Drinking

Condition
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Phoenix

Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85012

Little Rock

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System , Little Rock, AR, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 77205

Washington

Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20422-0001

Dublin

Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin, GA, Dublin, Georgia, United States, 31021

Battle Creek

Battle Creek VA Medical Center, Battle Creek, MI, Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, 49037

Minneapolis

Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55417-2309

Kansas City

Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64128-2226

Omaha

Omaha VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE, Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68105-1850

Dallas

VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75216-7167

Salt Lake City

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84148-0001

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * 1) diagnosed with an AUD and report 4 HDD
  • * (defined as 5 standard drinks per day for men and 4 standard drinks per day for women) in prior 30-days
  • * 2) enrolled in VA primary care
  • * 3) planning to initiate MAUD, as determined by a medication order
  • * 4) between ages 18-80
  • * 5) willing to be randomized
  • * 6) Android or iPhone smartphone owners
  • * 1) past 30-day participation in VA or non-VA SUD treatment
  • * 2) prior episode of MAUD receipt in the last 30 days (initiation of a new episode of MAUD in the 7 days prior to screening allowed)
  • * 3) plans to be or are pregnant
  • * 4) severe psychiatric symptoms or psychosocial instability likely to prevent participation in the study protocol, as determined by the referring provider. Veterans aged \>80 were excluded because ownership and use of mHealth apps decreases with advancing age. Participants who enter SUD specialty care following randomization will be allowed to continue in the study

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Eric J. Hawkins, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA

Study Record Dates

2028-11-01