Helpline Pilot Factorial Trial

Phase 1

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Heavy Drinking

• Registration Number: NCT06591026
• Lead Sponsor: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Brief Summary

The pilot factorial trial will (1) evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the intervention components (Aim 2.1), and (2) collect proof-of-concept data on the impact of the components on the proximal (motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation) and distal (quantity and frequency of HED) outcomes (Aim 2.2). Participants will include 120 postpartum mothers recruited from social media. The investigators will conduct a pilot 2X2X2 balanced full factorial trial, with 4 factors (1 constant, 3 randomized to 2 levels each) and 8 study conditions. The 4 factors will include: (1) Standard Helpline (constant); (2) Motivational Interviewing (yes vs. no); (3) Coping skills training (yes vs. no); (4) Automated messaging (yes vs. no). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 8 study conditions, which will determine which combination of intervention components participants receive.

Detailed Description

The pilot factorial trial will (1) evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the intervention components (Aim 2.1), and (2) collect proof-of-concept data on the impact of the components on the proximal (motivation, self-efficacy, and self-regulation) and distal (quantity and frequency of HED) outcomes (Aim 2.2). In keeping with the goals of the R34 mechanism, the emphasis will be on feasibility evaluation and not on hypothesis testing, with a goal of obtaining preliminary information about implementation feasibility and effect sizes of the intervention components to inform a fully-powered optimization trial in a future R01. Thus, investigators will examine main and interactive effects of the intervention components in an exploratory manner to inform refining the components for further testing in a future study. Participants will include 120 postpartum mothers recruited from social media. The investigators will conduct a pilot 2X2X2 balanced full factorial trial, with 4 factors (1 constant, 3 randomized to 2 levels each) and 8 study conditions. The 4 factors will include: (1) Standard Helpline (constant); (2) Motivational Interviewing (yes vs. no); (3) Coping skills training (yes vs. no); (4) Automated messaging (yes vs. no). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of 8 study conditions, which will determine which combination of intervention components participants receive. The study will last for 24 weeks. Following informed consent, participants will complete a baseline assessment and randomization, at which point participants will be enrolled. The active intervention period will begin in Week 2, with the number of scheduled sessions varying by condition. Participants will complete a post-intervention assessment and qualitative interview after the final intervention contact (varying by condition), and follow-up assessments at 3- and 6-months post-baseline.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-08-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-09-08
• Study First Posted: 2024-09-19
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-14
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-25
• Study Start: 2025-12-01
• Primary Completion: 2027-07-31
• Study Completion: 2027-07-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

• Resides full-time in the United States
• Age 18-45 years
• Gave birth to an infant within the prior 4 weeks
• Speaks and reads English
• Owns a text-enabled cell-phone
• Receives a score of 2 or more on the T-ACE alcohol risk screener
• Reports ONE of the following: (a) drinking weekly or more often in the prior month; or (b) having 4 or more standard drinks at one time at least monthly in the 12 months prior to becoming pregnant.

Exclusion Criteria

• Resides outside of the United States
• Age under 18 years or over 45 years
• Did not give birth to an infant within the prior 4 weeks
• Cannot speak and read English
• Does not own a text-enabled cell-phone
• Does not receive a score of at least 2 on the T-ACE alcohol risk screener
• Does not report either drinking weekly or more often in the past month or having 4 or more standard drinks at least monthly in the 12 months prior to becoming pregnant
• Scores greater than 4 on the AUDIT-C, indicating an alcohol use disorder

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Heavy episodic drinking	3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up	Number of episodes of heavy episodic drinking, measured by the Timeline Follow Back.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Motivation to avoid alcohol	3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up	Motivation to avoid alcohol use until the baby is one year old, assessed via the Maternal Motivation Scale. Likert scale 1-10.
Drinking self-efficacy	3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up	Total score on the Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.
Maternal self-efficacy	3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up	Total score on the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale.
Self-regulation	3-month follow-up; 6-month follow-up	Total score on the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale.