Peer-led Personalized Support Program

NCT05918601 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: NTEC-2023-129
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aim: To test the effectiveness of a peer-led personalized support program using instant messaging applications and a self- determination theory-based intervention to help young drug abusers quit drugs. Hypothesis to be tested: The investigators hypothesize that compared with those in the control group, the participants in the intervention group will experience greater success in reducing and quitting drugs and will have a better health-related quality of life at 12 months follow-up.

Conditions

Health-risk Behaviours; Drug Abuse

Keywords

Health-risk Behaviours; Drug Abuse

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Drug Consumption

  Participants' change in drug consumption between baseline and 12-month follow-up will be measured by a structured-questionnaire. The questionnaire gathers the frequency and categories of drug consumption in the past 30 days. The more frequencies and the more kinds of drug used indicating the higher consumption of drug abuse.

  12 month

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• The self-reported drug abuse abstinence rate

  6 month and 12 month

• The change in drug consumption

  6 month

• The changes of the contemplation stages at 6-month and 12-month

  6 month and 12 month

• Change of other health-related lifestyles

  6 month and 12 month

• The quality of life

  6 month and 12 month

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Each participant will receive the telephone that will be delivered by a trained peer supporter using the Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer and Do-it-Again (AWARD) model. For the advice steps, participants will be asked about the priority they place on engagement in health-related lifestyles. A brief intervention on the selected health-related lifestyle will be given. In addition, they will be informed that they will receive instant messaging via WeChat or WhatsApp to assist them to adhere to their schedule of the desirable health-related lifestyle throughout the study period. For the first 6 months of the study period, peer supporters will send WhatsApp or WeChat messages approximately once per week to the participants to remind them to adhere to their schedule of the desirable health-related lifestyle. In addition, the participants will receive four independent 1-minute videos which focus on the health risks associated with abusing drugs and the benefits of quitting drugs.

Other: Health-risk behaviors; Other: Theory of planned behavior, Self-determination theory; Other: Assist them to adhere to their schedule of quitting drugs throughout the study period; Other: Assist them to adhere to their schedule of desirable health-related lifestyles/quitting drugs throughout the study period; Other: (AWARD) model; Other: Receive four independent 1-minute videos

Control Group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Trained peer supporters will answer calls from potential participants and explain the nature and purpose of the project to them. Each participant will then receive a brief intervention over the telephone that will be delivered by a trained peer supporter using the Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer and Do-it-Again (AWARD) model. Participants will be asked to quit drugs immediately or progressively. In addition, they will be informed that they will receive instant messaging via WeChat or WhatsApp from peer supporters to assist them to adhere to their schedule of quitting drugs throughout the study period. For the first six months, participants will receive four independent 1-minute videos which focus on the health risks associated with abusing drugs and the benefits of quitting drugs without any schedule of the desirable health-related lifestyle throughout the study period.

Other: Theory of planned behavior, Self-determination theory; Other: Assist them to adhere to their schedule of quitting drugs throughout the study period; Other: (AWARD) model; Other: Receive four independent 1-minute videos

Interventions

Health-risk behaviors OTHER

Participants will be asked about the priority they place on engagement in health-related lifestyles, such as quitting drugs, alcohol, smoking or exercising regularly.

Intervention group

Theory of planned behavior, Self-determination theory OTHER

The participants will be asked to quit drugs immediately or progressively with the ultimate goal of quitting drugs completely.

Control Group; Intervention group

Assist them to adhere to their schedule of quitting drugs throughout the study period OTHER

The participants will receive instant messaging via WeChat or WhatsApp from peer supporters to assist them to adhere to their schedule of quitting drugs throughout the study period.

Control Group; Intervention group

Assist them to adhere to their schedule of desirable health-related lifestyles/quitting drugs throughout the study period OTHER

The participants will receive instant messaging via WeChat or WhatsApp from peer supporters to assist them to adhere to their schedule of desirable health-related lifestyles/quitting drugs throughout the study period.

Intervention group

(AWARD) model OTHER

Participants receive a brief intervention using the Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer and Do-it-Again (AWARD) model

Control Group; Intervention group

Receive four independent 1-minute videos OTHER

The participants will receive four independent 1-minute videos which focus on the health risks associated with abusing drugs and the benefits of quitting drugs.

Control Group; Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• be aged 35 or below
• be able to communicate in Cantonese
• have an history of drug abuse within the past 12 months (including all types of drugs such as narcotics analgesics, hallucinogens, depressants, stimulants, tranquillizers and other recreational drugs)

You may not qualify if:

• psychologically or physically unable to communicate
• be aged 18 - 35
• be able to communicate in Cantonese
• have a medical background
• complete the training courses and pass the evaluation of peer supporter qualification
• psychologically or physically unable to communicate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders

Interventions

Theory of Planned Behavior; Models, Biological; Videotape Recording

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Models, Psychological; Models, Theoretical; Investigative Techniques; Tape Recording; Audiovisual Aids; Educational Technology; Technology; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture; Television

Study Officials

• Ho Cheung William Li

  Chinese University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ho Cheung William Li

CONTACT

39430889; williamli@cuhk.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2023
• First Posted: June 26, 2023
• Study Start: June 30, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: May 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: After the project has been completed and the results of the project has been published
• Access Criteria: Request could be sent to Principal Investigator (williamli@cuhk.edu.hk)

Locations

HK (1)