EMA of Substance Use in Homeless Youth

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The proposed study will provide critical information on Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) design characteristics that promote retention in a vulnerable and under-represented population in research-youth experiencing homelessness. The study will use an EMA app to collect substance use, mood, craving, social surroundings, and trauma measures over a 14-day period in youth age 18-24 (n=40) recruited from Star House, a homeless youth drop-in center. Youth will be randomized in 2x2 factorial design (fixed incentive model vs. prize-based model; random assessment 3x vs. 6x per day).

Official Title
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Ecological Momentary Assessment of Substance Use in Homeless Youth

Conditions
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Substance Use

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire) Prompts 3x/day
* Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire) Prompts 6x/day
* Behavioral: Incentive Structure - fixed
* Behavioral: Incentive Structure - prize based


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: currently homeless, defined as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. report any of the following past-month frequencies of substance use (NIDA ASSIST screen) used in prior EMA studies: a) heavy episodic or binge drinking (≥4 drinks per day for women/≥5 drinks for men) ≥2 days per month ; b) marijuana use ≥2 days per week; or c) any illicit drug use. Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 24 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Interventional Model Description: 2x2 factorial design (fixed incentive model vs. prize-based model; random assessment 3x vs. 6x per day)
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: EMA, 3x/day, fixed incentive<br>Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire). Participants randomized to this group will be sent prompts through the EMA app to complete brief EMA survey at 3 random times per day. Participants randomized to this group will earn a fixed bonus/incentive based on completion of the EMA surveys (50-74%=$3; 75-89%=$5; ≥90%=$10) each week. | Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire) Prompts 3x/day<br>* Participants receive 3 EMA survey prompts daily for the duration of the study.<br>Behavioral: Incentive Structure - fixed<br>* Those assigned to the fixed incentive condition will earn a fixed bonus based on EMA completion (50-74%=$3; 75-89%=$5; ≥90%=$10) each week.<br>|
| Experimental: EMA, 6x/day, fixed incentive<br>Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire). Participants randomized to this group will be sent prompts through the EMA app to complete brief EMA survey at 6 random times per day. Participants randomized to this group will earn a fixed bonus/incentive based on completion of the EMA surveys (50-74%=$3; 75-89%=$5; ≥90%=$10) each week. | Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire) Prompts 6x/day<br>* Participants receive 6 EMA survey prompts daily for the duration of the study.<br>Behavioral: Incentive Structure - fixed<br>* Those assigned to the fixed incentive condition will earn a fixed bonus based on EMA completion (50-74%=$3; 75-89%=$5; ≥90%=$10) each week.<br>|
| Experimental: EMA, 3x/day, prize-based incentive<br>Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire). Participants randomized to this group will be sent prompts through the EMA app to complete brief EMA survey at 3 random times per day. Participants randomized to this group will be rewarded for high survey completion with increasing numbers of draws for prizes depending on their level of response each week (50-74%=1 draw, 75-89%=2 draws, ≥90%=3 draws). | Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire) Prompts 3x/day<br>* Participants receive 3 EMA survey prompts daily for the duration of the study.<br>Behavioral: Incentive Structure - prize based<br>* Those assigned to the prize-based incentive will be rewarded for high survey completion with increasing numbers of draws depending on their level of response to EMA prompts each week (50-74%=1 draw, 75-89%=2 draws, ≥90%=3 draws). For each draw, individuals will use the EMA app to spin the wheel to see which prize amount they earn. Out of a total of 500 total draws, 50% will be $1, 43.6% will be $3, 6% will be medium prizes ($5), and 0.4% will be a jumbo prize ($90).<br>|
| Experimental: EMA, 6x/day, prized-based incentive<br>Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire). Participants randomized to this group will be sent prompts through the EMA app to complete brief EMA survey at 6 random times per day. Participants randomized to this group will be rewarded for high survey completion with increasing numbers of draws for prizes depending on their level of response each week (50-74%=1 draw, 75-89%=2 draws, ≥90%=3 draws). | Behavioral: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA; Metricwire) Prompts 6x/day<br>* Participants receive 6 EMA survey prompts daily for the duration of the study.<br>Behavioral: Incentive Structure - prize based<br>* Those assigned to the prize-based incentive will be rewarded for high survey completion with increasing numbers of draws depending on their level of response to EMA prompts each week (50-74%=1 draw, 75-89%=2 draws, ≥90%=3 draws). For each draw, individuals will use the EMA app to spin the wheel to see which prize amount they earn. Out of a total of 500 total draws, 50% will be $1, 43.6% will be $3, 6% will be medium prizes ($5), and 0.4% will be a jumbo prize ($90).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Length of Time | Total length of time in days using EMA (range: 1-14 days). Higher values represent greater length of time EMA was used. | Baseline to end of trial (day 14) | 
| Percent Completion | Percent of EMA surveys completed (0-100%). Higher values represent a larger percentage of EMA surveys completed. | Baseline to end of trial (day 14) |