Efficacy and comparative effectiveness of telephone and smartphone remote continuing care interventions for alcohol use disorder: a randomized controlled trial
This randomized controlled trial examined whether adding remote continuing care (via telephone, smartphone, or both) to intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) improves alcohol use disorder treatment outcomes compared to IOP alone. Findings were published on PubMed.
Study Design & Participants
This four-group randomized controlled trial was conducted at a university research center in Philadelphia, PA, with follow-up assessments at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 months. The study enrolled 262 participants who met DSM-V criteria for alcohol use disorder. The participant population was predominantly male (71%) and African American (82%).
Interventions
The study compared four treatment approaches over a 12-month period. The first group received Telephone Monitoring and Counseling (TMC), providing phone-based support to 59 participants. The second group used the ACHESS smartphone app, delivering digital support to 68 participants. The third group received both TMC and ACHESS interventions combined, involving 70 participants. The control group received treatment as usual (TAU), consisting of intensive outpatient programs only, with 65 participants.
Primary Findings
All three continuing care interventions significantly reduced heavy drinking compared to IOP alone. The percentage of days of heavy drinking (PDHD) in months 1-12 showed meaningful improvements:
- Remote interventions reduced heavy drinking by 47-53% compared to IOP alone
- All three approaches were similarly effective – combining them offered no additional benefit
- Effects were maintained during the 12-month intervention period but did not persist at 18 months post-treatment
Key Results.
Clinical Significance
The study demonstrates that remote continuing care delivery can effectively extend and enhance traditional intensive outpatient treatment, offering scalable options for ongoing support that don’t require additional in-person resources.
