Alcohol ConsumptionMATCHNCT02918565
Mechanisms for Alcohol Treatment Change [MATCH] Study
A study testing Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF), Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) and Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) in people with Alcohol Consumption, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
A 5-arm randomized trial to determine what components of a text message intervention are necessary to reduce hazardous drinking among young adults and mechanisms through which these changes occur. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Consumption
- What is being tested?
- Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF), Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) and Adaptive Goal Support (AGS)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,131 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Dec 2016to 22 Nov 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- total score of >2 for women or >3 for men on the AUDIT-C
- at least 1 binged drinking episode in the prior 30 days
Who cannot join
- no cell phone with text messaging
- have been diagnosed with an alcohol or substance use disorder
- pregnant or planning pregnancy
- taking medicine for a psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety)
- taking any medicine that could interact with alcohol
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Emergency Department
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261
About this study
A 5-arm randomized trial to determine what components of a text message intervention are necessary to reduce hazardous drinking among young adults and mechanisms through which these changes occur.
Read the detailed description
Young adults ages 18-25 have high rates of hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. The Emergency Department (ED) provides an important opportunity to identify young adult hazardous drinkers who could benefit from interventions. A Text Message (TM) intervention was shown to reduce alcohol consumption among young adult ED patients, showing durable effects over 9-months. The TM intervention uses behavior change techniques with the largest effect sizes in an alcohol intervention meta-analysis: "goal commitment" and "self-monitoring", along with real-time "feedback". However, the unique effect of these ingredients, and mechanisms (processes occurring within the individual) through which they operate to reduce drinking remain unclear, a critical gap addressed by this project. Young adult ED patients (ages 18-25) who screen positive for hazardous drinking will be recruited to participate in a randomized trial to determine how best to help individuals reduce hazardous drinking. All participants will be asked to complete web-based surveys at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after enrollment, complete brief psychomotor tasks weekly for 14 weeks, and respond to text messages each Thursday and Sunday for the next 12 weeks. Those randomized to the TM interventions will additionally receive feedback on their text reports. The four TM intervention arms are: (1) Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF), (2) Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF), (3) Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) and (4) a combination of DCF, ARF, and AGS=COMBO). Study results have implications for designing efficient mobile interventions, and developing a dynamic theory of behavior change.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Consumption
- Being tested
- Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF), Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF), Adaptive Goal Support (AGS), COMBO
- Medical subject headings
- Alcohol Drinking
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF)Behavioural
12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to pre-weekend drinking cognitions (plans, desire to get drunk).
Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF)Behavioural
12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to post-weekend alcohol consumption (max drinks consumed on any occasion over the weekend).
Adaptive Goal Support (AGS)Behavioural
12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing adaptive goal support (based on running average of max drinks consumed).
COMBOBehavioural
12 weeks of interactive text messaging incorporating features of DCF, ARF and AGS.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF) | Experimental | 12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to pre-weekend drinking cognitions (plans, desire to get drunk). Receives: Behavioral: Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF) |
| Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) | Experimental | 12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to post-weekend alcohol consumption (max drinks consumed on any occasion over the weekend). Receives: Behavioral: Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) |
| Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) | Experimental | 10 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing adaptive goal support (based on running average of max drinks consumed). Receives: Behavioral: Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) |
| COMBO | Experimental | 12 weeks of interactive text messaging incorporating features of DCF, ARF and AGS. Receives: Behavioral: COMBO |
| Control | No intervention | 12 weeks of text message assessments without any feedback |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Binge Drinking Days
Measured by the # days on the Timeline Followback Calendar that a male reported 5+ drinks or a female reported 4+ drinks
Measured: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Drinks Per Drinking Day
drinks per drinking day = mean drinks divided by the number of days with any alcohol consumption using the 30-day TLFB Calendar.
Measured: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Count of Participants With Any Binge Drinking Day
Using the Timeline Followback Calendar, any male participant reported one or more days with 5+ drinks or a female with one or more days with 4+ drinks are coded=1; otherwise participant is coded=0
Measured: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire Score
Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (B-YAACQ). The B-YAACQ is a 24-item measure of alcohol- related problems that utilizes a dichotomous (present or absent) scoring format. Sum of items 1-48. Higher scores (count of items marked as 'present') on the B-YAACQ not only indicate a wider variety but also reflect a more severe pattern of alcohol-related problems.
Measured: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Study startDec 2016
- Primary completion22 Nov 2021
- Study completion22 Nov 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Alcohol ConsumptionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 1,131 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maria Pacella, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Brian Suffoletto, MD MS, Principal investigator, University of Pittsburgh
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02918565
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY19050262
- Other IDs
- R01AA023650
- Acronym
- MATCH
- Status last verified
- Nov 2023
- First submitted
- 23 Sep 2016
- Last updated
- 5 Dec 2023
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified dataset provided upon request
Publications
Chung T, Suffoletto B, Bhurosy T. Which intervention works for whom: Identifying pre-treatment characteristics that predict who will benefit from a specific alcohol text message intervention from a randomized trial. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2025 Jan;168:209562. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209562. Epub 2024 Nov 4.
PubMed 39505110Bae SW, Suffoletto B, Zhang T, Chung T, Ozolcer M, Islam MR, Dey AK. Leveraging Mobile Phone Sensors, Machine Learning, and Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Imminent Same-Day Binge-drinking Events to Support Just-in-time Adaptive Interventions: Algorithm Development and Validation Study. JMIR Form Res. 2023 May 4;7:e39862. doi: 10.2196/39862.
PubMed 36809294Suffoletto B, Field M, Chung T. Attentional and approach biases to alcohol cues among young adult drinkers: An ecological momentary assessment study. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2020 Dec;28(6):649-658. doi: 10.1037/pha0000343. Epub 2019 Dec 30.
PubMed 31886700
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Dec 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Mechanisms for Alcohol Treatment Change [MATCH] Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02918565
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MATCH / STUDY19050262
- Conditions
- Alcohol Consumption
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 1,131 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
- Study start
- Dec 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 22 Nov 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 22 Nov 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 5 Dec 2023
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A 5-arm randomized trial to determine what components of a text message intervention are necessary to reduce hazardous drinking among young adults and mechanisms through which these changes occur.
Detailed description
Young adults ages 18-25 have high rates of hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. The Emergency Department (ED) provides an important opportunity to identify young adult hazardous drinkers who could benefit from interventions. A Text Message (TM) intervention was shown to reduce alcohol consumption among young adult ED patients, showing durable effects over 9-months. The TM intervention uses behavior change techniques with the largest effect sizes in an alcohol intervention meta-analysis: "goal commitment" and "self-monitoring", along with real-time "feedback". However, the unique effect of these ingredients, and mechanisms (processes occurring within the individual) through which they operate to reduce drinking remain unclear, a critical gap addressed by this project. Young adult ED patients (ages 18-25) who screen positive for hazardous drinking will be recruited to participate in a randomized trial to determine how best to help individuals reduce hazardous drinking. All participants will be asked to complete web-based surveys at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks after enrollment, complete brief psychomotor tasks weekly for 14 weeks, and respond to text messages each Thursday and Sunday for the next 12 weeks. Those randomized to the TM interventions will additionally receive feedback on their text reports. The four TM intervention arms are: (1) Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF), (2) Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF), (3) Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) and (4) a combination of DCF, ARF, and AGS=COMBO). Study results have implications for designing efficient mobile interventions, and developing a dynamic theory of behavior change.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 5
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF) | Experimental | Behavioral: Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF)12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to pre-weekend drinking cognitions (plans, desire to get drunk). |
| Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) | Experimental | Behavioral: Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF)12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to post-weekend alcohol consumption (max drinks consumed on any occasion over the weekend). |
| Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) | Experimental | Behavioral: Adaptive Goal Support (AGS)10 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing adaptive goal support (based on running average of max drinks consumed). |
| COMBO | Experimental | Behavioral: COMBO12 weeks of interactive text messaging incorporating features of DCF, ARF and AGS. |
| Control | No intervention | –12 weeks of text message assessments without any feedback |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- total score of >2 for women or >3 for men on the AUDIT-C
- at least 1 binged drinking episode in the prior 30 days
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- no cell phone with text messaging
- have been diagnosed with an alcohol or substance use disorder
- pregnant or planning pregnancy
- taking medicine for a psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety)
- taking any medicine that could interact with alcohol
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF)12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to pre-weekend drinking cognitions (plans, desire to get drunk). | Behavioural | Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF) |
| Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF)12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing feedback related only to post-weekend alcohol consumption (max drinks consumed on any occasion over the weekend). | Behavioural | Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) |
| Adaptive Goal Support (AGS)12 weeks of interactive text messaging focused on providing adaptive goal support (based on running average of max drinks consumed). | Behavioural | Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) |
| COMBO12 weeks of interactive text messaging incorporating features of DCF, ARF and AGS. | Behavioural | COMBO |
Primary outcome
Number of Binge Drinking Days
Time frame: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Measured by the # days on the Timeline Followback Calendar that a male reported 5+ drinks or a female reported 4+ drinks
3 secondary outcomes
Drinks Per Drinking Day
Time frame: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Count of Participants With Any Binge Drinking Day
Time frame: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire Score
Time frame: 12 weeks after starting intervention
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Dec 2023.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39505110Chung T, Suffoletto B, Bhurosy T. Which intervention works for whom: Identifying pre-treatment characteristics that predict who will benefit from a specific alcohol text message intervention from a randomized trial. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2025 Jan;168:209562. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209562. Epub 2024 Nov 4.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 36809294Bae SW, Suffoletto B, Zhang T, Chung T, Ozolcer M, Islam MR, Dey AK. Leveraging Mobile Phone Sensors, Machine Learning, and Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Imminent Same-Day Binge-drinking Events to Support Just-in-time Adaptive Interventions: Algorithm Development and Validation Study. JMIR Form Res. 2023 May 4;7:e39862. doi: 10.2196/39862.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 31886700Suffoletto B, Field M, Chung T. Attentional and approach biases to alcohol cues among young adult drinkers: An ecological momentary assessment study. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2020 Dec;28(6):649-658. doi: 10.1037/pha0000343. Epub 2019 Dec 30.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified dataset provided upon request
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Brian Suffoletto, MD MS principal investigator
University of Pittsburgh
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Drinking Cognition Feedback (DCF), Alcohol Risk Feedback (ARF) and Adaptive Goal Support (AGS) in people with Alcohol Consumption, run by University of Pittsburgh at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Dec 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 5 Dec 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Binge Drinking Days (time frame: 12 weeks after starting intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02918565, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Dec 2023.