Clinical trial NCT01114919: Helping Problem Drinkers on the Internet
Official title: Helping Problem Drinkers on the Internet
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Alcohol Dependence
Keywords: Problem drinking
Alcohol dependence
Alcohol abuse
Internet based intervention
Treatment
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Lead sponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Health Canada
First posted: 2010-05-03
Enrollment: 246
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 19
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The main aim of this study is to compare the impact of a minimal and a full Internet-based self-help intervention for problem drinkers in the general population.

Detailed description: Many problem drinkers never access any treatment services. Because of the individual as well as societal costs of heavy alcohol consumption, it is essential to find ways to intervene and provide assistance to problem drinkers. The Internet takes treatment to problem drinkers rather than requiring them to come to treatment, resulting in increased options for help for alcohol abusers. There is a preponderance of internet websites which are designed for self change in areas that include alcohol use. To date, however, there has been minimal scientific evaluation regarding the efficacy and safety of such programs.

Our own previous research found that we could reduce alcohol consumption by about three drinks per week at a six-month follow-up using a minimal, personalized feedback Internet-based intervention. Building on this, the current project will attempt to increase the impact of Internet-based interventions as well as produce sustained reductions in drinking by adding an extended online self-help service to this already promising minimal intervention. More specifically, this randomized, double blinded study will compare and evaluate the efficacy of two different degrees of treatment intervention for problem drinkers: a minimal one ("Check your Drinking") and a full one ("Alcohol Help Centre").

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Resident of Ontario
* 19 years of age or over
* Have consumed alcohol in the one month prior to the telephone survey.
* Have consumed alcohol in the one month prior to the telephone survey.
* A score of 8 or over on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
* Indicate an interest in receiving self-help materials
* Have home access to the Internet
* Are willing to participate in follow-up at six and twelve month intervals

Exclusion Criteria:

* None

Primary outcomes:
measure: Frequency of consumption
timeFrame: 6 months and 12 months
measure: Usual number of drinks per occasion
timeFrame: 6 months and 12 months
measure: Frequency of consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion
timeFrame: 6 months and 12 months
measure: Typical weekly consumption
timeFrame: 6 months and 12 months
measure: Highest number of drinks on one occasion
timeFrame: 6 months and 12 months
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Toronto
country: Canada
facility: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
name: John Cunningham, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Cunningham JA. Comparison of two internet-based interventions for problem drinkers: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Aug 1;14(4):e107. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2090.