Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The Application to Improve Motivation (AiM) has been developed to help users improve their motivation to make and maintain a desired health behaviour change, such as drinking, smoking and exercise. This study aims to explore the utility and potential impact of this smartphone application used alongside routine clinical practice for people being treated for substance misuse.
Who can participate?
Adults receiving counselling for substance misuse
What does the study involve?
AiM will be offered to all clients who meet the inclusion criteria in a charity substance misuse service and will be evaluated as an addition to weekly counselling. The evaluation will run for 4 weeks; at the end of which the consenting client and counsellor will each be asked to complete a one-page questionnaire. AiM will also collect anonymous use data on self-reported health behaviours and levels of motivation. The data will then be analysed to evaluate the effectiveness of AiM as an adjunct to weekly counselling for substance misuse.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits and risks not provided at time of registration.
Where is the study run from?
Addiction Care and Support Agency (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From March 2015 to June 2015
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded
Who is the main contact?
Mr Harvey Wells
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Mr Harvey Wells
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7230-4992
Contact details
Sir Frank Lampl Buildling
School of Nursing
Faculty of Health
Social Care and Education
St George's
University of London and Kingston University
Sir Frank Lampl Building
Kingston Hill Campus
Kingston Upon Thames
KT2 7LB
United Kingdom
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Mr Harvey Wells
ORCID ID
Contact details
Sir Frank Lampl Buildling
School of Nursing
Faculty of Health
Social Care and Education
St George's
University of London and Kingston University
Sir Frank Lampl Building
Kingston Hill Campus
Kingston upon Thames
KT2 7LB
United Kingdom
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Case series evaluation of a smartphone application on levels of motivation to change substance misuse behaviour in a clinical population already engaged in treatment
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Participants motivation to change will increase following the use of the smartphone application
Ethics approval
Faculty of Health, Social Care, and Education, Kingston University and St George's, University of London (UK), 20/10/2014
Study design
Interventional case series
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format; please use contact details below to request a participant information sheet.
Condition
Substance misuse (alcohol or ilicit drugs)
Intervention
Smartphone application designed to increase motivation to change health-related behaviours
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Motivation: self-reported via smartphone application and evaluation questionnaire; clinical observations of participant's counsellor; measured at the beginning of the study, then weekly for 4 weeks
Secondary outcome measures
Substance misuse behaviour: self reported via smartphone application and evaluation questionnaire; measured at the beginning of the study, then weekly for 4 weeks.
Overall trial start date
02/03/2015
Overall trial end date
01/06/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Between 18-64 years old
2. In treatment for individual counselling or group counselling
3. Have agreement from their counsellor to use the application as an adjunct to therapy sessions
4. Have a minimum of 4 weeks counselling remaining
5. Have either an Android smartphone (2.3.3 or later) or an IPhone (iOs 7 or later) with access to mobile data or Wi-Fi
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
20
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Age younger than 18 or older than 65
2. No longer in treatment for substance misuse
3. Counsellor does not agree to be included in the trial
4. Participant has less then 4 weeks of counselling remaining
5. Does not have access to a smartphone with ability to run the application
Recruitment start date
02/03/2015
Recruitment end date
04/05/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Addiction Care and Support Agency
96 Ditton Road
Surbiton
KT6 6RH
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Addiction Care and Support Agency
233 Lower Mortlake Road
Richmond
TW9 2LL
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Kingston University and St George's, University of London
Sponsor details
Faculty of Health
Social Care and Education
Sir Frank Lampl Building
Kingston Hill Campus
Kingston Upon Thames
KT2 7LB
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Other
Funder name
Investigator initiated and funded
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
1. We aim to complete the data collection by May 2015.
2. We will analyse and write up over June and July 2015.
3. We aim to publish the evaluation of the smartphone app, including the impact on motivation and substance misuse behaviour.
4. We plan to submit these findings to a peer-reviewed journal in the area of substance misuse, such as the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. We would hope this to be published in 2016.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list