Study Results
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Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
352 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2021-07-01
2023-04-01
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Technology offers exciting potential in both respects. First, computer-delivered brief interventions (CDBIs) can be presented inexpensively, with perfect fidelity, and without the need for training or provider time. Second, their replicability, flexibility, and modularity makes them the perfect platform for (a) isolating the active ingredients that are associated with positive outcomes; and thereby (b) continually optimizing CDBIs to achieve cumulative increases in efficacy.
The overall goal of this research is to develop a maximally effective and replicable CDBI for reducing heavy alcohol use. To accomplish this, the investigators will use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST), an efficient method for optimizing intervention content that uses factorial designs to evaluate main and interaction effects of specific intervention components. The selection of components will be guided by: (a) Common Factors Theory, which highlights the tremendous contribution of relational factors, such as empathy, alliance and positive regard to therapy outcomes, but which is of unknown relevance to CDBIs; and (b) the Media Equation Theory, which suggests that people automatically respond to computers in social ways, particularly when those computers replicate human characteristics. Guided by this literature, the investigators will examine outcomes of a CDBI in which empathic statements, the gender of the narrator, the presence/absence of a narrator backstory, and the use/non-use of motivational interviewing techniques are systematically manipulated using a factorial design.
Specific aims are as follows:
1. Develop 16 distinct, time-consistent, computer-delivered sessions representing all possible combinations of the following four factors (each of which will be binary; i.e. either present vs. absent or male vs. female): (1) narrator gender, (2) empathic statements and reflections, (3) narrator backstory, and (4) use of motivational techniques.
2. Evaluate main and interaction effects of the five factors by randomly assigning 352 heavy drinkers to the 16 sessions (each of the four factors being presented to half of the participants) and evaluating (1) subjective reactions to the CDBI at baseline and (2) alcohol use at 1-month follow-up.
Hypothesis 1. Subjective reactions to the CDBI, disclosure of alcohol use and consequences, and motivation to reduce alcohol use will be higher and alcohol use at follow-up will be lower in the presence of (1) empathic statements, (2) a narrator backstory and (3) motivational techniques. The effects of narrator gender will be examined in an exploratory way (i.e., no a priori hypotheses).
Hypothesis 2. Subjective reactions will be more positive, disclosure and motivation to reduce alcohol use will be higher, and alcohol use at follow-up will be lower when the two relational factors (empathy and narrator backstory) are combined with the presence of motivational content.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
FACTORIAL
TREATMENT
TRIPLE
Study Groups
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Empathic Statements, MI, Male, No Backstory
Presence of empathic statements and MI techniques. Male narrator. No narrator backstory.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
No Empathic Statements, No MI, Female, No Backstory
No empathic statements, MI techniques or narrator backstory. Female narrator
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
No Empathic Statements, No MI, Female, Backstory
No empathic statements or MI techniques. Presence of narrator backstory. Female narrator
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
Empathic Statements, MI, Female, Backstory
Presence of empathic statements, MI techniques and narrator backstory. Female narrator
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
No Empathic Statements, No MI, Male, No Backstory
No empathic statements, MI techniques or narrator backstory. Male narrator
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
Empathic Statements, MI, Male, Backstory
Presence of empathic statements, MI techniques and narrator backstory. Male narrator.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
No Empathic Statements, MI, Female, Backstory
Presence of MI techniques and narrator backstory. No empathic statements. Female narrator.
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
Empathic Statements, No MI, Male, No Backstory
Presence of empathic statements. No MI techniques or narrator backstory. Male narrator.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
No Empathic Statements, MI, Male, Backstory
Presence of MI techniques and narrator backstory. No empathic statements. Male narrator.
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
Empathic Statements, No MI, Female, No Backstory
Presence of empathic statements. No MI techniques or narrator backstory. Female narrator.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
Empathic Statements, MI, Female, No Backstory
Presence of empathic statements and MI techniques. Female narrator. No narrator backstory.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
No Empathic Statements, No MI, Male, Backstory
Presence of narrator backstory. No empathic statements or MI techniques. Male narrator.
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
Empathic Statements, No MI, Female, Backstory
Presence of empathic statements and narrator backstory. No MI techniques. Female narrator.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
Empathic Statements, No MI, Male, Backstory
Presence of empathic statements and narrator backstory. No MI techniques. Male narrator.
Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
No Empathic Statements, MI, Female, No Backstory
Presence of MI techniques. No empathic statements or narrator backstory. Female narrator.
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
No Empathic Statements, MI, Male, No Backstory
Presence of MI techniques. No empathic statements or narrator backstory. Male narrator.
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
Interventions
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Empathic Statements/Reflections
Presence of Empathic Statements
Narrator Backstory
Presence of a narrator backstory
Male Narrator
Presence of a male narrator
Female Narrator
Presence of a female narrator
MI Techniques
Presence of MI techniques
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Access to the internet.
* Males must consume at least 14 drinks per week or 4 drinks per day
* Females must consume at least 7 drinks per week or 3 drinks per day
Exclusion Criteria
* No internet access
* Males who consume less than 14 drinks per week or 4 drinks per day
* Females who consume less than 7 drinks per week or 3 drinks per day
18 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Wayne State University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Emily Grekin
Associate Professor
Principal Investigators
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Emily Grekin, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Wayne State University
Locations
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Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Countries
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References
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Grekin ER, Thomas HA, Ondersma SJ. Testing the efficacy of narrator empathy, self-disclosure, gender, and use of brief motivational interviewing techniques in a brief internet-based intervention for alcohol use. Psychol Addict Behav. 2024 May;38(3):231-242. doi: 10.1037/adb0001003. Epub 2024 Mar 14.
Other Identifiers
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22-01-4352
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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