What is the effectiveness of the DrinksRation smartphone application on modifying alcohol use behaviour in Service personnel at risk of alcohol-related harm?
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN14977034 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14977034 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | 2154MODREC22 |
| Sponsor | Defence Medical Services |
| Funder | Ministry of Defence |
- Submission date
- 24/10/2022
- Registration date
- 06/12/2022
- Last edited
- 16/10/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
This is a study looking at drinking behaviours, health and wellbeing in serving military personnel. We are looking at what effect various different interventions have on changing alcohol use behaviour in military personnel in order to better support military personnel who are at increased risk of alcohol related harm. For some people this will involve downloading a smartphone application. All personnel participating will have access to the smartphone application on completion of their data gathering phase.
Who can participate?
All members of the UK Armed Forces are eligible to take part if they are seen to be at risk of alcohol related harm on a scoring measure called AUDIT-C.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be asked to complete various surveys about their alcohol consumption, drinking behaviour and health over a 3 month period. The surveys will be sent either by email or through a smartphone application. All participants will be given access to the app, but at different points in time. There will be a short follow up survey sent out 6 months from now.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The potential benefits of the study are that participants may become more aware of their drinking behaviours and alcohol use and they will also be helping the wider military community by helping understand what effects drinking behaviours and the impact drinking has.
Potential disadvantages of taking part are considered to be unlikely. If it is detected that participants may be drinking at a harmful level, the independent medical officer may get in touch to provide guidance and support. Some of the survey topics may be emotionally difficult and these surveys are optional for completion. Each will come with a trigger warning and signposting to support services if required. There is a small risk that the technologies used in this study could be hacked, in the same way as with any smartphone or app. Encryption and data de-identification processes have been built in to minimise any risk to participants in the event of hacking.
Where is the study run from?
King's Centre for Military Health Research based at King's College London (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2021 to April 2023
Who is funding the study?
Defence Medical Services (Ministry of Defence) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Kate King, katherine.king415@mod.gov.uk
Contact information
Principal investigator
King's Centre for Military Health Research
Weston Education Centre
10 Cutcombe Road
London
SE5 9RJ
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-1016-5357 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 300 160 6665 |
| katherine.king415@mod.gov.uk |
Public
King's Centre for Military Health Research
Weston Education Centre
10 Cutcombe Road
London
SE5 9RJ
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 300 160 6665 |
|---|---|
| katherine.king415@mod.gov.uk |
Scientific
King's Centre for Military Health Research
Weston Education Centre
10 Cutcombe Road
London
SE5 9RJ
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 300 160 6665 |
|---|---|
| katherine.king415@mod.gov.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Two-arm randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Participant information sheet | 42646 PIS v2.0 20Sep2022.pdf |
| Scientific title | Military DrinksRation study |
| Study objectives | That use of the DrinksRation app will reduce alcohol consumption in a population of at risk military personnel |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 20/09/2022, Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee (Defence Science & Technology, DSTL Portsdown West, Fareham, PO17 6AD, UK; +44 300 153 5372; DST-MODRECTeam@mod.gov.uk), ref: 2154/MODREC/22 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Alcohol behaviour change in military personnel identified as being at risk of alcohol related harm. |
| Intervention | This study is a two-arm randomised controlled trial comparing the Drinks:Ration smartphone application with usual care. Participants will be recruited through periodic dental inspections, Service specific communications and social media, and through poster advertisements for the trial in military establishments. Participants will be recruited if they are current serving UK military and willing to be sent surveys to study their drinking behaviours, health and wellbeing. Initial screening with AUDIT-C will define eligibility for the trial arms. Participants with an AUDIT-C score of ≥5 will be eligible for the Drinks:Ration RCT. Those scoring ≤4 on AUDIT-C will not be eligible for the RCT but will still be able to partake in the surveys (see data gathering group below). Randomisation will occur automatically using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) research management programme31 after participants have read the participant information leaflet, consented to inclusion and completed basic demographics. Two participant blocks in a 1:1 ratio will be used to ensure equal gender distribution between the control and intervention arms. The REDCap randomisation module will be programmed, by the RCI / University of Birmingham statistician, independently of the research team to maintain blinding to participant treatment allocation. Participants will be blinded to the intervention as they will be told that the research involves them completing various surveys about drinking behaviours, health and wellbeing. The intervention arm will be emailed copies of the relevant trial information leaflets and a link to download the Drinks:Ration app. They will be asked to use the app for a minimum of 28 days. The control arm will be emailed copies of the relevant trial information leaflets and informed that they will be emailed periodically with various surveys looking at alcohol use and health. There will be no contact between researchers and participants at any stage of the trial. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Change in alcohol units consumed per week between baseline and day 84 as measured by the timeline follow back method. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Change in alcohol units consumed per week between baseline and day 168 as measured by the timeline follow back method. |
| Completion date | 30/04/2023 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 16 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 728 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Age 16 years - no upper limit (upper age limited by being in active military service) 2. Serving UK Military 3. Scores 5 or more on AUDIT-C screening questionnaire |
| Key exclusion criteria | Scores 4 or less on AUDIT-C screening questionnaire |
| Date of first enrolment | 14/01/2023 |
| Date of final enrolment | 28/02/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Coltman House
Defence Medical Services Whittington
Lichfield
WS149PY
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request, Published as a supplement to the results publication, Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for this study are currently unknown and will be shared at a later date. It is anticipated that the raw data will be made available as a supplement to the subsequent results publication. Results will also be available from the author (katherine.king415@mod.gov.uk) on a case by case basis providing that there are no breaches of the ethical approval and appropriate data storage can be guaranteed. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol article | 13/10/2023 | 16/10/2023 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | version 2.0 | 20/09/2022 | 24/10/2022 | No | Yes |
| Participant information sheet | App information version 2.0 |
20/09/2022 | 24/10/2022 | No | Yes |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | version 2.4 | 20/09/2022 | 24/10/2022 | No | No |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- 42646 Protocol_V2.4 20Sep2022.pdf
- Protocol file
- 42646 PIS v2.0 20Sep2022.pdf
- Participant information sheet
- 42646 PIS AdditionalApp v2.0 20Sep2022.pdf
- App information
Editorial Notes
16/10/2023: Publication reference added.
24/10/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by Ministry of Defence REC.
