Objective: Mobile Health approaches show promise as a delivery mode for alcohol screening and brief intervention. The 'YourCall' trial evaluated the effect of a low-intensity mobile phone text message brief intervention compared with usual care on hazardous drinking and alcohol-related harms among injured adults. This paper extends our previously published primary outcome analysis which revealed a significant reduction in hazardous drinking associated with the intervention at 3 months, with the effect maintained across 12 months follow-up. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of the intervention on alcohol-related harms and troubles and help-seeking behaviours (secondary outcomes) at 12-months follow-up.
Results: A parallel two-group, single-blind, randomised controlled trial was conducted in 598 injured inpatients aged 16-69 years identified as having medium-risk hazardous drinking. Logistic regression models applied to 12-month follow-up data showed no significant differences between intervention and control groups in self-reported alcohol-related harms and troubles and help-seeking behaviours. Although this text message intervention led to a significant reduction in hazardous alcohol consumption (previously published primary outcome), changes in self-reported alcohol-related harms and troubles and help seeking behaviours at 12-months follow up (secondary outcomes) were small and non-significant.
Trial registration: ACTRN12612001220853. Retrospectively registered 19 November 2012.
Keywords: Alcohol drinking; Cell phones; Injuries; Text messaging; brief intervention for harm (BI); mHealth intervention.