Project U Connect - Optimizing Brief Alcohol Intervention for Underage Drinkers in the ER

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Alcohol Misuse
• Interventions: Behavioral: Computer-delivered Brief Intervention (CBI); Behavioral: Intervener-delivered Brief Intervention (IBI); Behavioral: Adapted Motivational Enhancement Therapy (AMET)

• Registration Number: NCT01051141
• Lead Sponsor: University of Michigan

Brief Summary

The Emergency Department (ED) setting is a unique point of access for reaching underage drinkers (age 14-20). With the aid of computer technology, this study will screen underage drinkers in the ED and fully test promising ED-based brief intervention and 3-month follow-up brief treatment approaches for alcohol misuse. Developing methods to efficiently and effectively optimize these approaches has powerful public health implications for improving outcomes for underage drinkers.

Detailed Description

The proposed study will use computerized screening using touchscreen computer tablets with audio (\~5,700 patients) and will test a developmentally appropriate, tailored intervention. Specifically, 900 patients aged 14-20 in the ED who screen positive for problematic alcohol use in the past 3 months will be randomized to the combinations of three ED-based conditions: 1) computer brief intervention-CBI; 2) therapist/intervener delivered brief intervention-IBI; or 3) enhanced usual care-EUC. All participants will be randomized to one of two follow-up conditions: 1) adapted motivational enhancement therapy-AMET; or 2) enhanced usual care-EUC that will take place 3 months post-ED. All participants will receive written information regarding community resources; individuals who meet alcohol use disorder criteria will additionally receive substance use treatment referrals.

Recognizing that brief interventions are important, but not necessarily sufficient, for change in all adolescents and young adults who misuse alcohol, the primary specific aims of the proposed study will determine the independent effectiveness of immediate "on-the-spot" ED-based brief intervention conditions, 3-month follow-up brief treatment conditions, and combinations of conditions, for decreasing alcohol use and improving health-related outcomes (including injury, mental health, and other risk behaviors) at 6- and 12-months follow-up.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2010-01-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-01-15
• Study First Posted: 2010-01-18
• Study Start: 2010-09
• Primary Completion: 2014-03
• Study Completion: 2014-06
• Status Verified: 2015-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-04-20
• Last Update Posted: 2015-04-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 870

Inclusion Criteria

Inclusion criteria for screening:

• (1) Patients age 14-20 years presenting to the UMMC ED for medical care
• (2) ability to provide informed consent.
• Additional inclusion criteria for intervention based on "alcohol misuse": Participants screening positive on the AUDIT for problematic alcohol use in the past 3 months will be eligible for the randomized control trial.

Exclusion Criteria

• (1) patients who do not understand English
• (2) patients deemed unable to provide informed consent (e.g., mental incompetence, prisoners);
• (3) adolescents ages 14-17 presenting without a parent/guardian; and
• (4) patients treated in the ED for suicide attempts or sexual assault.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
CBI in ED with EUC at 3 months	Computer-delivered Brief Intervention (CBI)	-
IBI in ED with AMET at 3 months	Adapted Motivational Enhancement Therapy (AMET)	-
CBI in ED with AMET at 3 months	Computer-delivered Brief Intervention (CBI)	computer brief intervention (CBI) at baseline with adapted motivational enhancement therapy-AMET at 3 months
CBI in ED with AMET at 3 months	Adapted Motivational Enhancement Therapy (AMET)	computer brief intervention (CBI) at baseline with adapted motivational enhancement therapy-AMET at 3 months
IBI in ED with AMET at 3 months	Intervener-delivered Brief Intervention (IBI)	-
IBI in ED with EUC at 3 months	Intervener-delivered Brief Intervention (IBI)	-
EUC in ED with AMET at 3 months	Adapted Motivational Enhancement Therapy (AMET)	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
alcohol use, alcohol related consequences	3 -12 month period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
health-related outcomes (injury, mental health, illicit and psychoactive prescription drug use/consequences, and other risk behaviors)	3-12 month period

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Michigan Health System; 🇺🇸 Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States