Online Education Hubs and Chat-based Text Messaging for Reducing Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking in Adolescents: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT07143565 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: knowledgehub
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Online education hubs and Chat-based text messaging for reducing alcohol consumption and binge drinking in adolescents: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Conditions

Teen Drinking

Keywords

Gamification; Information Hub; Randomized Controlled Trial; Teen Drinking; Binge Drinking

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Number of drinking days

  The primary outcome is the number of drinking days in the past 30 days at 3-month follow-up.

  3-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Number of ever binge drinking days

  3-month follow-up

• Number of binge drinking days

  3-month follow-up

• Intention to reduce or quit alcohol drinking

  3-month follow-up

• Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test

  3-month follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The treatment package includes both optional and mandatory treatments. The mandatory treatments consist of mHealth text messaging and an online platform hub.

Behavioral: Online platform hub and mHealth Text Messaging

Control Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control group will be provided a self-help material like leaflet for alcohol reduction, which involves education on alcohol harm and strategies for alcohol reduction.

Behavioral: Self-help material

Interventions

Online platform hub and mHealth Text Messaging BEHAVIORAL

The treatment package includes both optional and mandatory treatments. The mandatory treatments consist of mHealth text messaging and an online platform hub. We have developed a game which educates teenagers about alcohol reduction and promotes awareness of alcohol-related harm. Designed to be both engaging and informative, the game uses real-life scenarios, interactive storytelling, and decision-based gameplay to help young people understand the risks of excessive drinking. Also, participants with Audit Score \> 7 will receive individualized chat-based instant text messages from WhatsApp for 8 weeks. They will have real-time and one-to-one interaction. The conversation intensity depends on the participants' need.

Intervention group

Self-help material BEHAVIORAL

Self-help material like leaflet is a common method used in preventing teenage Drinking.

Control Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• being a Hong Kong resident aged between 12-18 years;
• having consumed alcohol in the past 12-month;
• Using WhatsApp in their cell phone.

You may not qualify if:

• cannot communicate in Cantonese or read Chinese;
• currently using other alcohol control programs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (2)

Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

NOT YET RECRUITING

Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

RECRUITING

Related Publications (9)

• Garnett CV, Crane D, Brown J, Kaner EFS, Beyer FR, Muirhead CR, Hickman M, Beard E, Redmore J, de Vocht F, Michie S. Behavior Change Techniques Used in Digital Behavior Change Interventions to Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption: A Meta-regression. Ann Behav Med. 2018 May 18;52(6):530-543. doi: 10.1093/abm/kax029.

  PMID: 29788261 BACKGROUND

• Wang H, Hu R, Zhong J, Du H, Fiona B, Wang M, Yu M. Binge drinking and associated factors among school students: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang Province, China. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 12;8(4):e021077. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021077.

  PMID: 29654047 BACKGROUND

• Ho DSY, Huang R, Wang MP, Lo WS, Lam TH. Adolescent alcohol drinking in Hong Kong: a school-based survey. Hong Kong Med J. 2019 Feb;25 Suppl 3(1):13-15. No abstract available.

  PMID: 30792366 BACKGROUND

• Silveri MM. Adolescent brain development and underage drinking in the United States: identifying risks of alcohol use in college populations. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2012 Jul-Aug;20(4):189-200. doi: 10.3109/10673229.2012.714642.

  PMID: 22894728 BACKGROUND

• Hunt WA. Are binge drinkers more at risk of developing brain damage? Alcohol. 1993 Nov-Dec;10(6):559-61. doi: 10.1016/0741-8329(93)90083-z.

  PMID: 8123218 BACKGROUND

• Zeigler DW, Wang CC, Yoast RA, Dickinson BD, McCaffree MA, Robinowitz CB, Sterling ML; Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association. The neurocognitive effects of alcohol on adolescents and college students. Prev Med. 2005 Jan;40(1):23-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.04.044.

  PMID: 15530577 BACKGROUND

• Paljarvi T, Koskenvuo M, Poikolainen K, Kauhanen J, Sillanmaki L, Makela P. Binge drinking and depressive symptoms: a 5-year population-based cohort study. Addiction. 2009 Jul;104(7):1168-78. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02577.x. Epub 2009 May 11.

  PMID: 19438420 BACKGROUND

• Dahl RE. Adolescent brain development: a period of vulnerabilities and opportunities. Keynote address. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Jun;1021:1-22. doi: 10.1196/annals.1308.001.

  PMID: 15251869 BACKGROUND

• Knight JR, Sherritt L, Harris SK, Gates EC, Chang G. Validity of brief alcohol screening tests among adolescents: a comparison of the AUDIT, POSIT, CAGE, and CRAFFT. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 Jan;27(1):67-73. doi: 10.1097/01.ALC.0000046598.59317.3A.

  PMID: 12544008 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Underage Drinking; Binge Drinking

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Adolescent Behavior; Behavior; Alcohol Drinking; Drinking Behavior; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Derek Yee Tak CHEUNG

CONTACT

+852 39176652; derekcheung@hku.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: open-labelled RCT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: 2-arm: Intervention group and Control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2025
• First Posted: August 27, 2025
• Study Start: November 28, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Last Updated: January 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: 3 years after the completion of the relevant publications

Locations

HK (2)