Development and Preliminary Examination of Two Brief Personalized Feedback Interventions Focused on Lab-based and EMA Alcohol Cues to Reduce Hazardous Young Adult Alcohol Use
Phase: NA
Conditions: Alcohol Drinking, Problem Drinking
Sponsor: University of Washington

Official Title: Development and Preliminary Examination of Two Brief Personalized Feedback Interventions 
Focused on Lab-based and EMA Alcohol Cues to Reduce Hazardous Young Adult Alcohol Use 
Brief Title: Testing Brief Personalized Feedback Integrating EMA Alcohol Cue Information (Project ACE) 
NCT number: NCT05373706 
Document date: April 30, 2024 
 
 

 
STUDY PROTOCOL 
 
Given the role of cue reactivity in eliciting alcohol-related cravings that can lead to increased alcohol use, the 
current study develops and tests a novel intervention strategy that may ultimately increase the strength of 
Personalized Feedback Intervention (PFI) effects to reduce young adult (YA) alcohol misuse. We developed a 
novel Cue Reactivity PFI based on Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) that will provide young adults 
with personalized feedback regarding the extent to which their urges to drink vary in response to alcohol cues. 
In turn, we anticipate that this feedback will increase young adults’ awareness of this phenomenon and of 
personally relevant cues. The novel intervention provides strategies for handling craving in response to alcohol 
cues with the goal of reducing alcohol use resulting from alcohol-related cues.  
 
The study design is a randomized clinical trial that includes online Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) 
and online baseline, 2-week, and 3-month assessments. Participants are randomized to either a PFI condition 
or an assessment-only condition. The study tests initial development of the PFI intervention, which is in the 
form of personalized feedback regarding alcohol craving and is delivered online to the intervention group. All 
participants complete the EMA protocol (daily surveys 4x/day for 17 days), baseline, and 2-week and 3-month 
surveys. The online intervention is sent on Day 17 of the EMA protocol; therefore, the follow-ups are timed to 
occur 2-weeks and 3-months from Day 17. 
 
Individuals who agreed to participate in the screening survey (Information Statement presented) and who were 
eligible based on the screening survey were contacted by research staff to verify their identity (e.g., name, date 
of birth). Participants were then sent a link to complete the informed consent process (Consent Form) and 
baseline survey. After participants completed the baseline survey, they were scheduled for an online, Zoom 
training session with a research staff member. In the Zoom session, participants first confirmed their identity by 
showing either a drivers license or ID card. Next, participants were shown a PowerPoint to aid in a discussion 
of the EMA survey process and study procedures. Upon completion of the Zoom training session, participants 
were randomized to either a cue reactivity PFI condition or assessment only condition. 
 
All participants began their 17-day burst of EMA surveys on the first Friday after their Zoom session. 
Participants were sent one morning survey (between 7am and 12pm), and participants could choose the start 
of their 3-hour time block (e.g., 7-10am, 8-11am, or 9am-12pm). Participants were sent 3 afternoon/evening 
surveys (one survey in each three 2-hour time block: 1-3pm; 4-6pm; 7-9pm); afternoon/evening surveys were 
sent at the same time for every participant. Upon completion of this 17-day EMA period, participants in the 
intervention condition received access to their online personalized feedback and a brief survey to assess 
reactions to their feedback. The intervention material consists only of this one-time personalized feedback 
(accessible online) that is provided to participants after the 17-day EMA period. The feedback remains 
accessible after the first viewing if the participant chooses to view it again. All participants received a 2-week 
follow-up survey and a 3-month follow-up survey timed to occur 2 weeks and 3-months, respectively, from Day 
17 of the EMA period.  
 
Participants in the intervention condition can access their personalized feedback via an online link sent directly 
to them. The personalized feedback consists of pre-programmed content viewable on either a computer or 
mobile phone. The feedback content provides educational information about awareness of alcohol cues and 
how that awareness relates to alcohol use as well as summaries of the participants’ own daily data that they 
completed during the EMA period.