The Use of Telephone-based ACT for Quitting Alcohol in the Young Population With Hazardous or Harmful Alcohol Use.

NCT07450248 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: telephone-based ACT
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 288
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in assisting young adult drinkers with hazardous or harmful alcohol use (HH drinkers) to quit drinking. Hypothesis to be tested: Primary hypothesis: 1) those who receive telephone-based ACT will report a significantly higher biochemical validated abstinence than the control groups. Secondary hypotheses are that compared with the control groups, those who receive telephone-based ACT will show: 2) significantly higher self-reported 30-day abstinence, 3) significantly greater reduction in drinking, and 4) significantly higher psychological flexibility. Design and subjects: A Hong Kong randomized controlled trial with 2-arm waitlist controlled trial design on 288 individuals (aged 18-35 years, able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese, and with AUDIT scores≥8). Study instruments: Biochemical-validated abstinence (Urine strips), timeline Follow-Back questionnaire, self-reported 30-day abstinence and Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index, Short-Form 6 Dimensions and semi-structured interviews. Interventions: The intervention group(n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based ACT. The waitlist control group (n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based social support intervention. Main outcome measures: Primary outcome is biochemical-validated abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include self-reported 30-day abstinence alcohol reduction, and psychological flexibility at baseline, post-program, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Data analysis: Descriptive statistics, generalized estimating equations, multiple imputation, intention-to-treat, per protocol analyses, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Expected results: The telephone-based ACT is effective in assisting HH drinkers to quit drinking.

Conditions

Alcohol Abstinence

Keywords

young adults; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Telephone-based; alcohol abstinence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• biochemically-validated abstinence

  The urine strips will be used for testing the content of ethyl glucuronide(a by-product of alcohol). Participants who self-report quitting drinking within the past 30 days at the 6-month follow-up will be invited to do the test.

  at the 6-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• self-reported 30-day alcohol abstinence

  at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups

• self-reported 30-day reduction in alcohol consumption

  at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups

• psychological flexibility

  at post-programme(T1) and at the 1-month(T2), 3-month(T3) and 6-month(T4) follow-ups

Study Arms (2)

Telephone-based ACT

EXPERIMENTAL

Telephone-based ACT for alcohol abstinence

Behavioral: Telephone-based ACT

Waitlist control

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Telephone-based social support

Behavioral: Telephone-based social support

Interventions

Telephone-based ACT BEHAVIORAL

Each participant will join a six-session weekly telephone-based ACT programme conducted by the interventionists. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes.

Telephone-based ACT

Telephone-based social support BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive weekly 45-minute telephone-based social support from an interventionist(not involved in the intervention group) for 6 weeks, which mimics the time and attention received by those in the intervention group.

Waitlist control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• (1)aged 18-35 years,37-38
• (2)able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese
• (3)have AUDIT scores≥8.

You may not qualify if:

• (1) those who have a serious mental illness (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale7 with a score of ≥13)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcohol Abstinence

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Drinking Behavior; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Ka Wai Katherine LAM, Doctor of Philosophy

CONTACT

+852 27666420; kw-katherine.lam@polyu.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 12, 2025
• First Posted: March 4, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2029
• Last Updated: March 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12