Effect of a 1‐year short message service in detoxified alcohol‐dependent patients: a multi‐center, open‐label randomized controlled trial

Autor: Ulrich John, Thomas Klauer, Harald J. Freyberger, Anja Broda, Jacqueline Höppner-Buchmann, Meinhard Mende, Michael Lucht, Hans J. Grabe, Jens M. Langosch, Markus Stuppe, Anett Schmiedeknecht, Anne Quellmalz, Oana Brosteanu, Christian Meyer, Georg Schomerus
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Addiction. 116:1431-1442
ISSN: 1360-0443
0965-2140
Popis: Background and aims Existing evidence suggests that text message interventions can help people to reduce their alcohol consumption. However, studies with alcohol-dependent patients are lacking. In this study a 1-year automatic mobile phone-based short messaging service (SMS) intervention on alcohol consumption in patients after alcohol detoxification in hospital was compared with treatment as usual. Design Multi-center, randomized, controlled, two parallel-group, observer-blinded trial. Setting and participants Primary and secondary care: four hospitals and community (1 million residents, 7600 km2 area in Germany). A total of 462 patients with alcohol dependence (ICD-10) were included during inpatient detoxification treatment. Patients were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to an SMS intervention and treatment as usual (SMS + TAU; n = 230; mean age: 45.4 years; 22.6% women) or TAU alone (n = 232 mean age: 44.5 years; 22.8% women). Planned, automated messages were sent to patients over 1 year to record assistance needs. A 'yes' or missing response triggered a telephone call from a hospital therapist. Outcome was assessed by an independent survey center. Measurements The primary end-point was a three-category alcohol consumption measure covering months 10-12 after discharge: abstinence, non-heavy drinking, heavy drinking [men > 60 g/day; women > 40 g/day equal to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria: high risk and very high risk, mean consumption]. Secondary end-points were number of abstinent days over 12 months and frequency of abstinence. Results The arms differed primarily in the heavy drinking category (intervention group 22.2%, TAU-only group 32.3%) in months 9-12. This is reflected by an odds ratio (OR) = 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-2.54, P = 0.015 for heavy drinking versus non-heavy drinking/abstinence. No difference between treatments was found with respect to any drinking versus abstinence (OR = 1.13). These results were confirmed by models adjusting for randomization strata. Conclusions In Germany, a 12-month mobile phone short messaging service-based intervention enhanced the reduction in heavy drinking for 1 year in routine care among adults with alcohol dependence discharged from inpatient alcohol detoxification.
Databáze: OpenAIRE