TRAC-ER Intervention to Reduce Risky Alcohol Use Among Sexual Minority Males and Transgender Individuals

Purpose

Ecological momentary interventions (EMI), which use phones to deliver messages to reduce alcohol use and related risk behaviors during or prior to drinking events, can help to address triggers in real-time. GPS tracking can determine when individuals visit places they have previously reported drinking or triggers to drink and then EMI messages can be delivered upon arrival to prevent risky alcohol use. A mobile app has been developed that uses GPS tracking to determine when emerging adult sexual minority male and transgender (SMMTs) persons visit "risky" places and then delivers a survey asking what behaviors they engaged in while at the location. The goal of the proposed study is to use this app to enhance the Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC) intervention by delivering messages that encourage participants to employ strategies discussed during TRAC sessions when arriving at risky places. When they leave these places, they will complete a survey and breathalyzer reading in order to collect event-level self-report and biological data on alcohol use and HIV risk. If their breathalyzer result indicates alcohol use, they will receive harm reduction messaging. It is expected that combining TRAC with EMI ("TRAC-ER") will increase effectiveness by reinforcing topics discussed during these sessions, providing in-the-moment messaging to address triggers, and collecting real-time alcohol use data.

Conditions

  • Risk Behavior
  • Alcohol Use Disorder
  • HIV Infections

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 35 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • self-identify as a sexual minority male (i.e., identifies as male and as a sexual orientation other than heterosexual) or as a transgender or non-binary individual - is between the ages of 18-35 at the start of the study - owns a smartphone - has not been diagnosed with HIV - screens positively for at-risk alcohol use (score of 4 or higher on the AUDIT-C, OR report engaging in binge drinking at least once over the past 12 months). - reports being sexually active in the past 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

  • do not speak English - active psychosis or severe mental illness - are actively detoxifying from substances and need medical supervision - a score of 20 or greater on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

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
SAM-Only Comparison Group 		Participants in this group will engage only in smartphone-based alcohol monitoring.
  • Behavioral: Smartphone Based Alcohol Monitoring (SAM)
    Smartphone-based alcohol monitoring (SAM) using mobile breathalyzers and surveys.
Experimental
TRAC plus SAM 		Participants in this group will receive the Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC) intervention and smartphone-based alcohol monitoring.
  • Behavioral: Smartphone Based Alcohol Monitoring (SAM)
    Smartphone-based alcohol monitoring (SAM) using mobile breathalyzers and surveys.
  • Behavioral: Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC)
    The TRAC intervention focuses on increasing motivation and building skills for avoiding triggers and managing situations that encourage drinking. It requires four 30-minute sessions with a counselor using videoconferencing and mobile phones. In addition to receiving the four sessions of intervention content, participants will complete smartphone-based self-monitoring of alcohol consumption, which will be discussed during intervention sessions.
Experimental
TRAC-ER plus SAM 		Participants in this group will receive the Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC) intervention combined with GPS-based ecological momentary interventions (EMI) and smartphone-based alcohol monitoring.
  • Behavioral: Smartphone Based Alcohol Monitoring (SAM)
    Smartphone-based alcohol monitoring (SAM) using mobile breathalyzers and surveys.
  • Behavioral: Tracking and Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC)
    The TRAC intervention focuses on increasing motivation and building skills for avoiding triggers and managing situations that encourage drinking. It requires four 30-minute sessions with a counselor using videoconferencing and mobile phones. In addition to receiving the four sessions of intervention content, participants will complete smartphone-based self-monitoring of alcohol consumption, which will be discussed during intervention sessions.
  • Behavioral: TRAC-ER
    Ecological momentary interventions (EMI) use phones to deliver messages to reduce alcohol use and related risk behaviors during or prior to drinking events. GPS tracking can determine when individuals visit places they have previously reported drinking or triggers to drink and then EMI messages can be delivered upon arrival to prevent risky alcohol use.

Recruiting Locations

UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science and nearby locations

University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky 40536
Contact:
Carolyn K Lauckner, PhD
859-562-3335
carolyn.lauckner@uky.edu

More Details

NCT ID
NCT05576350
Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Kentucky

Study Contact

Carolyn Lauckner, PhD
859-562-3335
carolyn.lauckner@uky.edu

Detailed Description

For this study, the investigators will enhance an existing mHealth intervention (TRAC) to reduce alcohol use among SMMT individuals by combining the intervention with an app which delivers EMI messages in real-time. Upon enrollment, participants will be randomized into one of 3 arms: TRAC-ER (EMI messaging, TRAC intervention, and smartphone-based alcohol monitoring), TRAC (TRAC intervention and smartphone-based alcohol monitoring), or a comparison group (smartphone-based alcohol monitoring only). Participants will be recruited from Kentucky and Connecticut through community-based recruitment and health clinics that serve SMMT individuals. 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.