Texting to Reduce Alcohol Misuse (TRAM): main findings from a randomized controlled trial of a text message intervention to reduce binge drinking among disadvantaged men. (1st June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Crombie, Iain K.; Irvine, Linda; Williams, Brian; Sniehotta, Falko F.; Petrie, Dennis; Jones, Claire; Norrie, John; Evans, Josie M. M.; Emslie, Carol; Rice, Peter M.; Slane, Peter W.; Humphris, Gerry; Ricketts, Ian W.; Melson, Ambrose J.; Donnan, Peter T.; Hapca, Simona M.; McKenzie, Andrew; Achison, Marcus
• Is Part Of: Addiction. Volume 113:Number 9(2018)
• Page Start: 1609
• Page End: 1618
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01
• Subjects: Binge drinking -- community based -- deprivation -- men -- narrative -- text message intervention; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/add.14229
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2140

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: To test the effectiveness of a theoretically based text‐message intervention to reduce binge drinking among socially disadvantaged men. Design: A multi‐centre parallel group, pragmatic, individually randomized controlled trial. Setting: Community‐based study conducted in four regions of Scotland. Participants: A total of 825 men aged 25–44 years recruited from socially disadvantaged areas who had two or more episodes of binge drinking (> 8 UK units on a single occasion) in the preceding 28 days: 411 men were randomized to the intervention and 414 to the control. Intervention and comparator: A series of 112 interactive text messages was delivered by mobile phone during a 12‐week period. The intervention was structured around the Health Action Process Approach, a comprehensive model which allows integration of a range of evidence‐based behaviour change techniques. The control group received 89 texts on general health, with no mention of alcohol or use of behaviour change techniques. Measurements: The primary outcome measure was the proportion of men consuming > 8 units on three or more occasions (in the previous 28 days) at 12 months post‐intervention. Findings: The proportion of men consuming > 8 units on three or more occasions (in the previous 28 days) was 41.5% in the intervention group and 47.8% in the control group. Formal analysis showed that there was no evidence that the intervention was effective [odds ratio (OR) = 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.57–1.08; absolute reduction 5.7%, 95% CI = −13.3 to 1.9]. The Bayes factor for this outcome was 1.3, confirming that the results were inconclusive. The retention was high and similar in intervention (84.9%) and control (86.5%) groups. Most men in the intervention group engaged with the text messages: almost all (92%) replied to text messages and 67% replied more than 10 times. Conclusions: A theoretically based text‐messaging intervention aimed at reducing binge drinking in disadvantaged men was not found to reduce prevalence of binge drinking at 12‐month follow‐up.