Walters ST, Mun EY, Tan Z, Luningham JM, Hébert ET, Oliver JA, Businelle MS. Development and preliminary effectiveness of a smartphone-based, just-in-time adaptive intervention for adults with alcohol misuse who are experiencing homelessness.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022;
46:1732-1741. [PMID:
35869820 PMCID:
PMC9509425 DOI:
10.1111/acer.14908]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Adults experiencing homelessness have much higher rates of alcohol misuse than housed individuals. This study describes the development and preliminary effectiveness of a smartphone-based, just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) to reduce alcohol use among adults experiencing homelessness.
METHODS
We conducted a pilot trial (N = 41; mean age [SD] = 45.2 [11.5]; 19.5% women) of the Smart-T Alcohol JITAI where participants completed brief ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) each day, received personalized treatment messages following each EMA, and accessed on-demand intervention content for 4 weeks. The prediction algorithm and treatment messages were developed based on an independent but similar sample as part of the trial. We examined three drinking outcomes: daily drinking (yes/no), drinks per day, and heavy episodic drinking, controlling for scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) at baseline, age, and sex using quadratic growth curve models.
RESULTS
Over the 4-week period, participants showed a decline in all alcohol use outcomes. Participants also reported high levels of satisfaction with the JITAI.
CONCLUSIONS
Use of the Smart-T Alcohol JITAI was well received and provided encouraging evidence that it may reduce any drinking, drinks per day, and heavy episodic drinking among adults experiencing homelessness.
Collapse