Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Chatbot-delivered Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol Reduction in Working-age Adults
Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
Summary
Alcohol abuse led to 5.3% of all deaths and 5.1% of all disability-adjusted life years globally in 2016, representing a heavier public health burden than diabetes, tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS (as documented in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health). The increasing consumption of alcohol for a few decades has led to a higher risk of cirrhosis, cancers, hypertension, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Strengthening of the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse has been incorporated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG3) by the United Nations. Strong evidence from a meta-analysis demonstrated the efficacy of screening and brief intervention (SBI) in reducing weekly alcohol consumption. Although SBI is known to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption in at-risk drinkers, barriers to implementing SBI have been an issue. A systematic review identified that common barriers to the routine delivery of SBI by doctors and nurses included a lack of alcohol-related knowledge, time, confidence, ability, and incentive to intervene; worrying about offending patients; and SBI being an uncomfortable and frustrating task. To scale up behavioural change interventions in primary care for expanding the scalability and reachability, artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-chatbots have been increasingly used in recent years. A systematic review showed that chatbots for mental health counselling were effective and safe. Other reviews also reported that chatbots might improve physical activity, diet, and weight management and oncology care. However, having searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library, there was no a randomised controlled trial on the use of an AI-chatbot for alcohol reduction.
Official title: Effectiveness and Usability of a Chatbot-delivered Screening and Brief Intervention for Alcohol Reduction in Working-age Adults: A Proof-of-concept Randomised Controlled Trial
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 59 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
300
Start Date
2023-12-01
Completion Date
2025-06-30
Last Updated
2024-09-19
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
chatbot-delivered screening and brief intervention
1. Screening and personalised advice based on AUDIT-C scores, personal reasons for drinking, and specific barriers: For a score of ≥ 3, the participant will be reminded of the level of risks and dangers of alcohol consumption and the benefits of consumption reduction/cessation and will be assessed for the personal reasons for drinking and specific barriers. 2. Warning of alcohol and alcohol-related harms and reminding of benefits of reduced consumption: The Department of Health's health warning booklet, which has been designed by two of our Co-Is, will be used as the educational content. 3. Realistic and personal goals setting: A specific and measurable goal will be set for the upcoming week. For example, "I will reduce to 1 bottle of beer in the upcoming week. 4. Motivational enhancement and practical coping strategies: Tangible advice will be given for coping with situational barriers according to their personal reasons for drinking.
Locations (1)
School of Nursing
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong