Mobile Technologies for Substance Use Disorders
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: Chess Mobile Health
Disqualifiers: Non-English, Illiterate, Addiction treatment, Unstable, others
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate efficacy of our enhanced version of the CHESS Health eIntervention in a clinical setting for those with moderate risk drug or alcohol use and those at high risk or with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) as measured by the ASSIST and the AUDIT assessment tools. The clinical trial is designed to determine whether SBIRT/eIntervention is significantly more effective than SBIRT/Treatment as usual (TAU) as delivered in a primary care setting. While it is not feasible or practical to individually test all components and features of the planned eIntervention, this design will permit testing of efficacy for reduction of substance use in both risk groups and increased enrollment in treatment for the high risk/SUD group in the SBIRT/eIntervention cohorts compared to the SBIRT/TAU cohorts. Note that the investigators are not including a screening/assessment only or other control condition, as the purpose of this clinical trial is not to test the efficacy of SBIRT itself, but rather to test whether SBIRT/eIntervention improves outcomes and successful referral relative to SBIRT/TAU delivery alone.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.
What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for substance use disorders?
Research shows that mobile and web-based technologies, like A-CHESS and E-SBIRT, can help people with substance use disorders by providing ongoing support and resources, which may reduce risky behaviors and prevent relapse. These tools have been used successfully to support recovery from alcohol dependence and other substance use issues.
12345Is the use of mobile technologies for substance use disorders safe for humans?
The studies reviewed focus on the effectiveness of SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) and its electronic versions for addressing substance use issues, but they do not specifically report any safety concerns related to these interventions. Generally, these interventions are considered safe as they involve non-invasive methods like computer-assisted screenings and brief interventions.
25678How is the SBIRT/eIntervention treatment unique for substance use disorders?
SBIRT/eIntervention, including A-CHESS, is unique because it uses mobile technology to provide ongoing support and resources for people recovering from substance use disorders, helping to prevent relapse by offering timely emotional and practical assistance. This approach is novel as it extends care beyond traditional treatment settings, making it accessible and individualized, which is particularly important for managing the chronic nature of addiction.
2391011Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults over 18 receiving primary care in Western Michigan who have a substance-specific NIDA Modified Assist score of 27 or greater, indicating moderate to high risk drug or alcohol use.Inclusion Criteria
I am 18 years old or older.
Receiving primary care at Western Michigan
Identified as having a substance-specific NIDA Modified Assist score of 27 or greater.
Exclusion Criteria
Non-English speaking
Cannot read at a 3rd grade level
Have current participation in addiction treatment
+1 more
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
1 visit (in-person or virtual)
Randomization and Intervention
Participants are randomized into intervention or control groups and receive either the eIntervention app or Treatment as Usual (TAU)
3 months
Ongoing access to digital interventions
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, including satisfaction surveys and healthcare utilization assessments
6 months
2 visits (in-person or virtual)
Participant Groups
The study tests the effectiveness of an enhanced CHESS Health eIntervention versus standard treatment (SBIRT/TAU) in reducing substance use and improving treatment enrollment among those at moderate to high risk for Substance Use Disorders.
4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: SBIRT/eIntervention those assessed with high risk.Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Subjects assigned to this condition will be instructed by the research assistant in how to download and use the eIntervention app, which they will be free to use as they like for the duration of the study. The app will contain a personalized suite of programs and activities. Unlike the TAU condition, the patient's referral to treatment would be managed through eIntervention. For example, the app will show the patient their referral details (if a referral to treatment was made), including details on the provider, referred services, and contact information, and will offer them videos of peers and professionals educating them on addiction, treatment, and sharing personal stories of recovery.
Group II: SBIRT/eIntervention for those with moderate risk drug or alcohol useExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Subjects assigned to this condition will be instructed by the research assistant in how to download and use the eIntervention app, which they will be free to use as they like for the duration of the study. The app will contain a personalized suite of programs and activities. Unlike the TAU condition, the patient's referral to treatment would be managed through eIntervention. For example, the app will show the patient their referral details (if a referral to treatment was made), including details on the provider, referred services, and contact information, and will offer them videos of peers and professionals educating them on addiction, treatment, and sharing personal stories of recovery.
Group III: SBIRT/TAU for those with moderate risk drug or alcohol useActive Control1 Intervention
This moderate risk group will receive the standard Screening and Brief Intervention Treatment (SBIRT) along with Treatment as Usual (TAU) at the clinic.
Group IV: SBIRT/TAU for those assessed with high risk.Active Control1 Intervention
This high risk group will receive the standard Screening and Brief Intervention Treatment (SBIRT) along with Treatment as Usual (TAU) at the clinic.
SBIRT/eIntervention is already approved in United States for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as CHESS Health eIntervention for:
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
- Alcohol Use Disorder
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
WMed Health Family MedicineKalamazoo, MI
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Chess Mobile HealthLead Sponsor
Western Michigan UniversityCollaborator
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)Collaborator
References
Leveraging technology to enhance addiction treatment and recovery. [2021]Technology such as the Internet and mobile phones offers considerable promise for affecting the assessment, prevention, and treatment of and recovery from substance use disorders. Technology may enable entirely new models of behavioral health care within and outside of formal systems of care. This article reviews the promise of technology-based therapeutic tools for affecting the quality and reach of addiction treatment and recovery support systems, as well as the empirical support to date for this approach. Potential models for implementing technology-based interventions targeting substance use disorders are described. Opportunities to optimize the effectiveness and impact of technology-based interventions targeting addiction and recovery, along with outstanding research needs, are discussed.
Health Evaluation and Referral Assistant: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Web-Based Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment System to Reduce Risky Alcohol Use Among Emergency Department Patients. [2023]Computer technologies hold promise for implementing alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT). Questions concerning the most effective and appropriate SBIRT model remain.
How Patients Recovering From Alcoholism Use a Smartphone Intervention. [2022]OBJECTIVE: Mobile technology has the potential to radically improve addiction treatment and continuing care by offering emotional and instrumental support anywhere and just in time. This is particularly important in addiction because timing is critical to preventing relapse. Although most experts consider alcoholism to be a chronic disease, providers do not typically offer ongoing support for relapse prevention after patients complete treatment, even though a central characteristic of alcoholism and other addictive behaviors is their chronically relapsing nature. A-CHESS is a smartphone-based system for preventing relapse to heavy drinking among people leaving active alcohol dependence treatment. A-CHESS is designed to improve competence, social relatedness, and motivation, the three tenets of Self-Determination Theory. This paper reports on the relative impact and use of A-CHESS four months after patients entered the study and discusses implications of the results on treating addiction and chronic diseases generally. METHODS: A total of 349 individuals with alcohol dependence leaving residential treatment were randomly assigned to either receive A-CHESS+Treatment as Usual or Treatment as Usual (standard aftercare). Patients came from two treatment agencies, one in the Midwest and one in the Northeast. Patients assigned to A-CHESS received a smartphone for 8 months and were followed for 12. The authors analyzed use patterns during the first 4 months of use by those receiving A-CHESS. RESULTS: Participants used A-CHESS heavily and sustained their use over time. Ninety-four percent of A-CHESS participants used the application during the first week after residential treatment. At week 16, almost 80% continued to access A-CHESS. Participants with alcohol and drug-dependence showed higher levels of system use than those with alcohol dependence only. Participants with a mental health diagnosis had slightly lower levels of use at the end of the intervention period (week 16), although more than 70% still accessed the system. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illustrate that patients with alcohol dependence, alcohol and drug dependence, and mental health issues will use smartphone applications such as A-CHESS for ongoing support, resources and information, thus extending patient care if given the opportunity. Further analysis is needed to determine if sustained A-CHESS use improves outcomes.
The adoption and sustainability of digital therapeutics in justice systems: A pilot feasibility study. [2023]This study explored whether participants with substance use disorder (SUD) would adopt and use a smart-phone app with a cognitive behavioral therapy program, weekly Brief Addiction Monitor (BAM) assessments, daily check-ins, tools to track sobriety and treatment, and other patient-centered resources. In addition, participants with SUD could access a social worker and peer support specialists.
Effectiveness of E-SBIRT intervention in community healthcare institution in China: study proposal for a randomised controlled trial. [2022]Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in addressing substance use problem. However, owing to the shortage of counsellors, it has not been widely used in China. With the development of smart medicine, we developed a web-based electronic SBIRT (E-SBIRT) program and explored the effectiveness of E-SBIRT in reducing substance use in China.
Utilization of Nurse-Administered Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment in a Brief Psychiatric Inpatient Unit. [2023]Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) has been established as an effective screening tool for providing interventions for patients with risky substance use.
Use of non-face-to-face modalities for emergency department screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (ED-SBIRT) for high-risk alcohol use: A scoping review. [2021]Background: The purpose of this review was to examine and chart the "scope" of strategies reported in ED-SBIRT (emergency department-based screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment) studies that employ non-face-to-face (nFtF) modalities for high-risk alcohol use (i.e., risk for alcohol-related injury, medical condition, use disorder) and to identify research gaps in the scientific literature. Methods: The scoping review population included study participants with high-risk alcohol use patterns as well as study participants targeted for primary public health prevention (e.g., adolescent ED patients). Core concepts included SBIRT components among intervention studies that incorporated some form of nFtF modality (e.g., computer-assisted brief intervention). The context encompassed ED-based studies or trauma center studies, regardless of geographic location. After screening a total of 1526 unique references, reviewers independently assessed 58 full-text articles for eligibility. Results: A total of 30 full-text articles were included. Articles covered a period of 14 years (2003-2016) and 19 journal titles. Authors reported the use of a wide range of nFtF modalities across all 3 ED-SBIRT components: "screening" (e.g., computer tablet screening), "brief intervention" (e.g., text message-based brief interventions), and "referral to treatment" (e.g., computer-generated feedback with information about alcohol treatment services). The most frequently used nFtF modality was computerized screening and/or baseline assessment. The main results were mixed with respect to showing evidence of ED-SBIRT intervention effects. Conclusions: There is an opportunity for substance use disorder researchers to explore the specific needs of several populations (e.g., ED patients with co-occurring problems such as substance use disorder and violence victimization) and on several methodological issues (e.g., ED-SBIRT theory of change). Substance use disorder researchers should take the lead on establishing guidelines for the reporting of ED-SBIRT studies-including categorization schemes for various nFtF modalities. This would facilitate both secondary research (e.g., meta-analyses) and primary research design.
Study protocol testing toolkit versus usual care for implementation of screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment in hospitals: a phased cluster randomized approach. [2020]Alarming rates of unhealthy alcohol, non-prescription drug, and tobacco use highlight the preventable health risks of substance abuse and the urgent need to activate clinicians to recognize and treat risky use. Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) is an efficacious and effective processes to identify, reduce and prevent risky use of substances. This paper describes a study protocol testing implementation of a toolkit to enhance use of SBIRT in acute care settings to recognize and address patient risky alcohol, drug, and tobacco use.
User-centered preferences for a gait-informed alcohol intoxication app. [2023]mHealth technology can be used as a potential intervention for alcohol-related consequences. Applications designed to monitor alcohol use and relay information to the user may help to reduce risky behavior. Acceptability of such applications needs to be assessed.
Mobile technology-based interventions for adult users of alcohol: A systematic review of the literature. [2022]Worldwide, 16% of people aged 15 and older engage in harmful use of alcohol. Harmful alcohol use leads to a host of preventable negative social and health consequences. Mobile technology-based interventions provide a particularly promising avenue for the widespread and cost-effective delivery of treatment that is accessible, affordable, individualized, and destigmatized to both alcohol-dependent and nondependent individuals.
Wearable and Wireless mHealth Technologies for Substance Use Disorder. [2022]The goal of this scoping review is to evaluate the advances in wearable and other wireless mobile health (mHealth) technologies in the treatment of substance use disorders.