BrotherlyACT: A Tech-Enhanced Violence and Substance Use Intervention for Black Boys and Young Men

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

300 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-15

Study Completion Date

2027-02-15

Brief Summary

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This study will adapt and test a culturally tailored, multi-component, and trauma-focused digital intervention to reduce the risk and effects of youth violence and substance use and bridge service access gaps for young Black males (YBM) in pediatric emergency and community-based low-resource settings.

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Detailed Description

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Across U.S. cities, Black youth face a 20-fold higher risk, and Hispanic youth a 4.4-fold higher risk of fatal shootings compared to non-Hispanic White youth aged 18-24. Despite these disparities, young Black males (YBM) in program-rich cities report reduced service utilization and uptake due to various modifiable personal and community-based factors. Several structural discrimination and avoidance-related processes drive these factors. For instance, YBM report high levels of Service Avoidance (where YBM avoid institutions that might create official records or have law enforcement presence, fearing involvement in the judicial system). At the individual level, they also report Experiential Avoidance (where trauma-impacted YBM suppress uncomfortable thoughts, experiences, and feelings - including openness to intervention - leading to maladaptive coping strategies (e.g., retaliation and substance dependence). These issues jointly amplify youth violence (YV) risk and related issues, such as substance use (SU). Yet, few programs target these personal and structural drivers of YV and SU. The investigator's prior research involving assault-injured YBM has shown a preference for digital and remotely delivered interventions that provide personalized feedback, round-the-clock support, privacy, and integrated services. Digital interventions are an underutilized resource for helping at-risk YBMs overcome some os there personal and structural barriers to utilizing behavioral and other health services.

This research study aims to adapt, validate, and test the efficacy of BrotherlyACT, a culturally tailored, multi-component, and trauma-focused digital intervention to reduce the risk and effects of youth violence and substance use and bridge service access gaps for young Black males (YBM) in pediatric emergency and community-based low-resource settings. This study will recruit a sample of 300 assault-injured YBMs at discharge from three level 1-2 emergency departments (EDs) and violence-involved YBMs from two community-based organizations. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention or Waitlist Control Group (WCG). The intervention group will receive the app/web-based BrotherlyACT, comprising three main components: 1) Brief psychoeducational microlearning lesson videos based on the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); 2) A Safety Planning Toolkit offering tools for risk assessment, emotional regulation, goal setting, and mindfulness-based stress reduction; 3) A Service Engagement Chatbot (called DEVON) that uses NLP to provide zip-code based navigational support and talk therapy. It is hypothesized that at baseline, 1-, and 3-months post-intervention, the intervention group will demonstrate reductions in 1) YV perpetration (reactive and proactive aggression); 2) YV victimization; 3) substance use (alcohol and other drug use occasions in the past 30 days, substance use attitudes and beliefs). Secondary outcomes include (A) service utilization intensity (e.g., # of weeks receiving follow-up/referral care, # of discriminatory staff-YBM encounters), (B) Experiential Avoidance, (C) Psychological distress, (D) Violence Intentions, and (E) Readiness to Change. This study will explore potential site/location and mediation/moderation effects.

Conditions

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Violence in Adolescence Substance Use Avoidance of Healthcare

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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BrotherlyACT Intervention Group

Three components make up BrotherlyACT: 1) Brief psychoeducational modules adapted from an evidence-based violence prevention program; 2) A Safety Planning Toolkit offering tools for risk assessment, mood tracking, goal setting, and mindfulness-based stress reduction; 3) A Service Engagement Chatbot that uses NLP to provide zip-code based navigational support and talk therapy.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

BrotherlyACT

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

BrotherlyACT is a digital intervention to prevent youth violence and substance use among trauma-exposed young Black males, ages 125-24. This intervention combines life skills coaching, safety planning tools, and an AI-driven chatbot to reduce the risk and effects of violence and early substance use.

Waitlist Control Group (WCG)

Group Type OTHER

BrotherlyACT Waitlist Control Group (WCG)

Intervention Type OTHER

During the waiting period, participants in the control group do not receive the BrotherlyACT intervention but may continue with their usual activities or interventions.

Interventions

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BrotherlyACT

BrotherlyACT is a digital intervention to prevent youth violence and substance use among trauma-exposed young Black males, ages 125-24. This intervention combines life skills coaching, safety planning tools, and an AI-driven chatbot to reduce the risk and effects of violence and early substance use.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

BrotherlyACT Waitlist Control Group (WCG)

During the waiting period, participants in the control group do not receive the BrotherlyACT intervention but may continue with their usual activities or interventions.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Assault-injured youth without impairments (e.g., unstable injuries),
2. Male-identifying, irrespective of sexual orientation;
3. Black/African American hospitalized for injury;
4. Ages 15 to 24 years (inclusive);
5. English literate at a 5th-grade reading level or higher;
6. Able to assent/consent and provide parental consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Currently detained in the criminal justice system,
2. Unable to complete assent/consent forms and assessments due to language barriers, cognitive dysfunction or injury, active psychotic disorder, suicide attempt as the mechanism of injury, and/or current treatment for depression or PTSD,
3. Those presenting with a chief complaint of acute sexual assault, suicidal ideation or attempt, or child maltreatment will be excluded as they already receive other ED services.

Minimum Eligible Age

15 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

24 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes