Can supportive text messaging post-detox boost treatment outcomes following inpatient alcohol and other drug withdrawal?
Effectiveness of supportive text messaging after participation in inpatient alcohol/drug withdrawal services on alcohol and drug use and psychological distress.
Turning Point, part of Eastern Health
100 participants
Nov 3, 2015
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
The project aims to examine whether supportive motivational text messages can serve as ongoing support to reduce relapse rates and extend the duration of continued abstinence among patients recently discharged from in-patient alcohol or other drug (AOD) withdrawal. To achieve this 100 patients who have completed detoxification at Wellington House will participate in a randomised controlled trial of the intervention (study design). Patients will be notified by nursing staff that the study is taking place during admission. Those deemed eligibility by the resident doctor will be approached and invited to participate towards the end of their stay. Eligibility criteria are: (i) owning a mobile phone with credit (ii) familiarity with sending and receiving text messages (iii) available for a telephone follow-up interview 1 month after discharge. If interested the doctor will provide information and oversee the consent taking process if they wish to participate. The consent process will include a request for permission for the researchers to access their screening and assessment data. The resident doctor will complete the client locator form so they can be contacted for a one-month follow-up interview. Once this documentation has been faxed to the research team, the study coordinator at Turning Point (Dr Manning) will take the next sealed envelope which will contains the condition to which the participant is allocated. Commencing the day after discharge and for the subsequent 4 weeks, the intervention group will receive twice daily motivational SMS and the control group will receive no motivational SMS and only one message a week providing them with the telephone number for Directline should they require support/assistance. Both groups of participants will continue to receive the usual care planned for them prior to discharge from Wellington House for the duration of the study. Baseline and outcome measures for this project are: (i) The AUDIT and DUDIT for substance use severity and (ii) the K10 to measure psychological distress (from the routinely completed screen and assessment). Additional measures at the one month telephone interview will be the Timeline Followback to establish alcohol and drug use in the past month. The follow-up interview will take approximately 30 mins to complete over the phone with a researcher. Participants will be sent a weekly SMS asking them to report (via reply SMS) the number of AOD using days for that week.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- Eligibility criteria for this study are as follows:
- Participants have a mobile phone with credit, and are not intending to change their number over the next month.
- Participants are familiar and comfortable with sending and receiving text messages on their mobile phone.
- To the best of their knowledge, participants will be available the follow-up phone interview with the research team in four weeks time.
- Participants must have completed detoxification for alcohol and/or drugs at Wellington House.
- Participants consent to participate in the research, if they are eligible.
Exclusion Criteria2
- Individuals under the age of 18, because their recovery and support needs may be different.
- Participants who are continuing on to longer term residential rehabilitation programs, where access to technology is limited or prohibited, and use of alcohol and other drugs is prohibited.
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Interventions
A randomised controlled trial design will be used for this study. Participants who are randomly to the intervention group will receive supportive text messages twice a day (morning and evening) for 4 weeks after discharge from an inpatient detoxification facility, Participants will also be asked to report their drug and alcohol use each week via text messages. Text messages: Supportive text messages include material aimed at relapse prevention; asking for help, changing behaviour, avoiding triggers, managing cravings, increasing self-esteem, helping others, and planning for success. Material was sourced from a variety of sources, including messages used in previous studies, 12-Step programs, the positive affirmation literature and consultation with addiction experts.. Examples of the text messages for the participants in the intervention group are: “Keep recovery as a priority and you will reach your goals”- Changing behaviour "What will you do if you find yourself around alcohol unexpectedly? Take some time to develop new strategies to help you cope."- Planning for success "Practise distraction techniques; do not give in to your cravings."- Managing cravings "You are powerful and in control of your own future."- Increasing self-esteem "Spend more time with like-minded, non-drinking peers."- Asking for help "Try to limit your time spent with friends or family who are heavy drinkers."- Avoiding triggers Weekly alcohol and other drug use self-report prompts Each week, participants in the intervention group will also receive a text message prompting them to report their weekly alcohol and other drug consumption via text message. Specifically, every participant who underwent alcohol withdrawal will receive a text asking: “How many days in the last week did you consume alcohol? Please reply with a number between 0 and 7," and every participant who underwent withdrawal for an illicit drug will receive a text asking: “How many days in the last week did you use the drug that has caused you the most concern? Please reply with a number between 0 and 7."
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12616000036415