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Self-management and Shared Decision-Making in Alcohol Dependence via a Mobile App: a Pilot Study

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Abstract

Purpose

Mobile applications (apps) have created new opportunities in the field of alcohol dependence (AD) within new paradigms of shared decision-making and self-management. The aim of this study is to report the results of a pilot study testing the usability of and satisfaction with a mobile app (called SIDEAL) in AD patients.

Methods

Adult AD outpatients were included. SIDEAL was installed on patients’ personal phones. The Timeline Followback (TLFB) method for the preceding 6 weeks was administered both at baseline and after 6 weeks (end of the study). Self-reports from the app were also assessed at the end of the study and compared to data provided by the TLFB. An online questionnaire about usability and satisfaction was administered to participants after completion of the study. Exploratory efficacy analyses were conducted.

Results

Twenty-four patients were included (mean age 48 years (SD 11.3), women 50%). Most patients (22/24) selected a goal to reduce their consumption. Patients used the self-register module of the app for an average of 80% of the study days. The consumption and medication self-register modules were the most valued, as along with the weekly feedback provided by the app about participants’ weekly rate of usage. Participants’ satisfaction with the app was high. Significant reductions were observed in alcohol consumption (binge drinking days in the last 6 weeks declined from 25 (SD 18.6) to 5.8 (SD 8), p < 0.001; mean daily alcohol consumption in standard units declined from 6.5 (SD 4.3) to 1.9 (SD 1.8), p < 0.001). On most days (88%), patients achieved their self-imposed objectives.

Conclusion

SIDEAL is a well-accepted and highly used app by AD patients that could improve their efficacy in managing their AD. Further larger, randomized studies are warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GRAC, Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomèdica (FCRB), RETICS (Red de Trastornos adictivos), University of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    Pablo Barrio, Lluisa Ortega & Hugo López

  2. GRAC, Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), RETICS (Red de Trastornos Adictivos), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Antoni Gual

Authors
  1. Pablo Barrio
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  2. Lluisa Ortega
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  3. Hugo López
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  4. Antoni Gual
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pablo Barrio.

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Conflict of Interest

Pablo Barrio received honoraria from Lundbeck and Pfizer, which are unrelated to the present study. While conducting the study, Antoni Gual received an economic grant from Lundbeck, D&A Pharma and TEVA as well as funding from Lundbeck, D&A Pharma and Abbivie, which are not connected to the work presented. Hugo López-Pelayo received travel grants from Lundbeck, Lilly, Janssen, Pfizer, Rovi and Esteve. Lluisa Ortega has no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Role of Funding Sources

The design and production of the app was funded by Lundbeck SA. There was no funding for the pilot study nor for the preparation of this manuscript.

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Barrio, P., Ortega, L., López, H. et al. Self-management and Shared Decision-Making in Alcohol Dependence via a Mobile App: a Pilot Study. Int.J. Behav. Med. 24, 722–727 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9643-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9643-6

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