Mobile Phone-Based Motivational Interviewing in Kenya

University of Vermont

Status: Completed

Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Mobile Motivational Interviewing (MI); Behavioral: In-Person Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03573167

CHRBSS 14-188

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary objective of this study was to test whether motivational interviewing (MI) provided over the mobile phone would reduce alcohol use among adults, including people living with HIV/AIDS, visiting primary care in Kenya. Heavy alcohol users voluntarily consented to being randomized to one of three study arms: standard in-person MI, mobile MI, or waitlist control receiving no intervention for 1 month followed by mobile MI. Alcohol use problems were assessed using validated screeners and changes in alcohol use were assessed at 1 month and 6 months after receiving the intervention. The investigators hypothesized that alcohol use would reduce after MI treatment compared to waitlist control, there would be no difference between standard in-person MI and mobile MI, and these reductions would be sustained out to six months following the intervention.

Enrollment: 322 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adults visiting the primary care clinic and screening positive for potential alcohol use problems.

Exclusion criteria

• Persons younger than 18 years old, with severe psychiatric morbidity, or cognitive impairment were not eligible for the study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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322 participants in 3 patient groups

In-Person Motivational Interviewing

Active Comparator group

Description:

In-Person Motivational Interviewing (MI) is the standard form of MI treatment delivered in person face to face at the primary care office. MI is a type of brief intervention that uses open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing as key tools and has been shown to treat a range of problem behaviors, including alcohol use disorders, by helping participants to identify and address ambivalence towards changing the behavior. MI is delivered in a communicative style that promotes individual autonomy and improves self-efficacy. The investigator provides counseling in-person with the participant for one session of MI lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: In-Person Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Mobile MI

Experimental group

Description:

Mobile Motivational Interviewing (MI) is delivered by a counselor over the mobile phone, rather than in-person (face-to-face). MI is a type of brief intervention that uses open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarizing as key tools and has been shown to treat a range of problem behaviors, including alcohol use disorders, by helping the patient to identify and address ambivalence towards changing the behavior. MI is delivered in a communicative style that promotes individual autonomy and improves self-efficacy. The investigator provides counseling over the mobile phone with the participant for one session of mobile MI lasting approximately 30 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mobile Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Waitlist Control

No Intervention group

Description:

After consenting to participate in the study, the Waitlist control participants receive no intervention for one (1) month, and then the Waitlist control participants are contacted by the investigators for follow up..