Evaluating an mHealth Intervention for Reducing Alcohol Use Among Rural Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Purpose

The objective of this study is to adapt and test the feasibility of a 4-week motivational interviewing mHealth intervention, Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC), to reduce alcohol use among rural adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors during post-treatment survivorship. At the end of this study, the feasibility data gathered will inform a definitive randomized controlled trial of TRAC-AYA to test the efficacy of the adapted intervention.

Conditions

  • Cancer
  • Alcohol Use

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 39 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosed with cancer between age 15-39 - 1-10 years post-treatment - Primary rural residence - Meets criteria for risky alcohol use

Exclusion Criteria

  • Severe psychopathology

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
TRAC: Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption
The TRAC intervention focuses on increasing motivation and building skills to reduce alcohol use and involves 4, 30-minute sessions with an interventionist done via video chat or phone. Participants will complete smartphone-based self-monitoring of alcohol use. Each morning, participants complete a mobile survey indicating if they drank the previous day and if so, how many drinks they had. Surveys will be programmed using REDcap and sent via a link in the reminder text message. Additionally, participants will be prompted each evening and asked to complete a breathalyzer reading using a mobile app to determine blood alcohol content (BAC). If safety concerns are identified (e.g., BAC ≥0.30; blackouts), the interventionist will refer the AYA to a licensed provider with expertise in substance use treatment.
  • Behavioral: TRAC: Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption
    The TRAC intervention focuses on increasing motivation and building skills for avoiding triggers and managing situations that encourage alcohol consumption. Participants set goals for reducing their drinking and learn strategies to help them achieve those goals. It requires four 30-minute sessions with a counselor using mobile phones.
Active Comparator
Control
Participants in the control group will receive educational materials regarding alcohol consumption and its link to cancer . They will also participate in smartphone monitoring of alcohol use on the same schedule as participants in the intervention group. This will allow us to compare daily alcohol use data between the two conditions and evaluate the added component of weekly counseling in TRAC.
  • Other: No intervention
    The comparison group will be evaluated based on daily self-monitoring data.

Recruiting Locations

More Details

NCT ID
NCT05087875
Status
Completed
Sponsor
Carolyn Lauckner

Detailed Description

For this study, the investigators will adapt and pilot an existing mHealth intervention (TRAC) to reduce alcohol use among rural AYAs as part of a randomized controlled trial. TRAC includes weekly phone sessions with an interventionist and incorporates smartphones for daily self-monitoring of alcohol use. Upon enrollment, participants will be randomized into either the intervention (TRAC) arm or control (education and daily self-monitoring) arm. Researchers will conduct the study in Kentucky, which leads the nation in cancer incidence and mortality, has a higher incidence of AYA cancers compared to other states, is 40% rural, and encompasses over 100 medically underserved areas. Participants will be recruited from the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and its affiliate institutions. Preliminary data used for this study were collected from a study (PI: Lauckner, K01AA02530) testing the TRAC intervention with people living with HIV/AIDS, which has shown promising preliminary results, with high feasibility, acceptability, and encouraging preliminary outcomes.