Alcohol AbstinenceNCT07450248
The Use of Telephone-based ACT for Quitting Alcohol in the Young Population With Hazardous or Harmful Alcohol Use.
A study testing Telephone-based ACT and Telephone-based social support in people with Alcohol Abstinence, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Trial summary
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in assisting young adult drinkers with hazardous or harmful alcohol use (HH drinkers) to quit drinking. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Abstinence
- What is being tested?
- Telephone-based ACT and Telephone-based social support
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 288 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2026to 1 Aug 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 35 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- (1)aged 18-35 years,37-38
- (2)able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese
- (3)have AUDIT scores≥8.
Who cannot join
- (1) those who have a serious mental illness (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale7 with a score of ≥13)
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Assist Young Adults With Hazardous or Harmful Alcohol Use to Quit Drinking
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in assisting young adult drinkers with hazardous or harmful alcohol use (HH drinkers) to quit drinking.
Hypothesis to be tested:
Read more
Primary hypothesis: 1) those who receive telephone-based ACT will report a significantly higher biochemical validated abstinence than the control groups.
Secondary hypotheses are that compared with the control groups, those who receive telephone-based ACT will show: 2) significantly higher self-reported 30-day abstinence, 3) significantly greater reduction in drinking, and 4) significantly higher psychological flexibility.
Design and subjects: A Hong Kong randomized controlled trial with 2-arm waitlist controlled trial design on 288 individuals (aged 18-35 years, able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese, and with AUDIT scores≥8).
Study instruments: Biochemical-validated abstinence (Urine strips), timeline Follow-Back questionnaire, self-reported 30-day abstinence and Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index, Short-Form 6 Dimensions and semi-structured interviews.
Interventions:
The intervention group(n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based ACT. The waitlist control group (n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based social support intervention.
Main outcome measures: Primary outcome is biochemical-validated abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include self-reported 30-day abstinence alcohol reduction, and psychological flexibility at baseline, post-program, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups.
Data analysis: Descriptive statistics, generalized estimating equations, multiple imputation, intention-to-treat, per protocol analyses, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Expected results: The telephone-based ACT is effective in assisting HH drinkers to quit drinking.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Abstinence
- Being tested
- Telephone-based ACT, Telephone-based social support
- Keywords
- young adults, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Telephone-based, alcohol abstinence
- Medical subject headings
- Alcohol Abstinence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Telephone-based ACTBehavioural
Each participant will join a six-session weekly telephone-based ACT programme conducted by the interventionists. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes.
Telephone-based social supportBehavioural
Participants will receive weekly 45-minute telephone-based social support from an interventionist(not involved in the intervention group) for 6 weeks, which mimics the time and attention received by those in the intervention group.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone-based ACT | Experimental | Telephone-based ACT for alcohol abstinence Receives: Behavioral: Telephone-based ACT |
| Waitlist control | Placebo comparator | Telephone-based social support Receives: Behavioral: Telephone-based social support |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
biochemically-validated abstinence
The urine strips will be used for testing the content of ethyl glucuronide(a by-product of alcohol). Participants who self-report quitting drinking within the past 30 days at the 6-month follow-up will be invited to do the test.
Measured: at the 6-month follow-up
Secondary outcomes (3)
self-reported 30-day alcohol abstinence
Measured: at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups
self-reported 30-day reduction in alcohol consumption
reduction in alcohol consumption refer to: 50% or more reduction in average alcohol consumption per day when compared with baseline at T0
Measured: at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups
psychological flexibility
Personalised Psychological Flexibility Index(PPFI) will be used to measure psychological flexibility by 19 items rating on a 7-point scale. Higher scores represent greater psychological flexibility. It has been validated among Chinese college students.
Measured: at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Aug 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Aug 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Alcohol AbstinenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 288 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Katherine Lam, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07450248
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- telephone-based ACT
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 12 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 4 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Controlled Trial of Telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Assist Young Adults With Hazardous or Harmful Alcohol Use to Quit Drinking
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07450248
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- telephone-based ACT
- Conditions
- Alcohol Abstinence
- Keywords
- young adults, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Telephone-based, alcohol abstinence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 288 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Aug 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in assisting young adult drinkers with hazardous or harmful alcohol use (HH drinkers) to quit drinking.
Hypothesis to be tested:
Primary hypothesis: 1) those who receive telephone-based ACT will report a significantly higher biochemical validated abstinence than the control groups.
Secondary hypotheses are that compared with the control groups, those who receive telephone-based ACT will show: 2) significantly higher self-reported 30-day abstinence, 3) significantly greater reduction in drinking, and 4) significantly higher psychological flexibility.
Design and subjects: A Hong Kong randomized controlled trial with 2-arm waitlist controlled trial design on 288 individuals (aged 18-35 years, able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese, and with AUDIT scores≥8).
Study instruments: Biochemical-validated abstinence (Urine strips), timeline Follow-Back questionnaire, self-reported 30-day abstinence and Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index, Short-Form 6 Dimensions and semi-structured interviews.
Interventions:
The intervention group(n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based ACT. The waitlist control group (n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based social support intervention.
Main outcome measures: Primary outcome is biochemical-validated abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include self-reported 30-day abstinence alcohol reduction, and psychological flexibility at baseline, post-program, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups.
Data analysis: Descriptive statistics, generalized estimating equations, multiple imputation, intention-to-treat, per protocol analyses, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
Expected results: The telephone-based ACT is effective in assisting HH drinkers to quit drinking.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone-based ACT | Experimental | Behavioral: Telephone-based ACTTelephone-based ACT for alcohol abstinence |
| Waitlist control | Placebo comparator | Behavioral: Telephone-based social supportTelephone-based social support |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- (1)aged 18-35 years,37-38
- (2)able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese
- (3)have AUDIT scores≥8.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- (1) those who have a serious mental illness (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale7 with a score of ≥13)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone-based ACTEach participant will join a six-session weekly telephone-based ACT programme conducted by the interventionists. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes. | Behavioural | Telephone-based ACT |
| Telephone-based social supportParticipants will receive weekly 45-minute telephone-based social support from an interventionist(not involved in the intervention group) for 6 weeks, which mimics the time and attention received by those in the intervention group. | Behavioural | Waitlist control |
Primary outcome
biochemically-validated abstinence
Time frame: at the 6-month follow-up
The urine strips will be used for testing the content of ethyl glucuronide(a by-product of alcohol). Participants who self-report quitting drinking within the past 30 days at the 6-month follow-up will be invited to do the test.
3 secondary outcomes
self-reported 30-day alcohol abstinence
Time frame: at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups
self-reported 30-day reduction in alcohol consumption
Time frame: at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups
psychological flexibility
Time frame: at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Mar 2026.
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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.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Telephone-based ACT and Telephone-based social support in people with Alcohol Abstinence, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
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 3 inclusion and 1 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ka Wai Katherine LAM, Doctor of Philosophy (+852 27666420, kw-katherine.lam@polyu.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
biochemically-validated abstinence (time frame: at the 6-month follow-up). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 4 Mar 2026.