The goal of this pilot randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the trial feasibility and acceptability of mobile chat messaging for reducing alcohol use among patients with chronic liver diseases. Specific objectives include: 1. To assess whether the eligibility criteria were too restrictive by estimating the eligibility rate 2. To assess how many eligible CLD patients accepted the invitation to participate in the trial 3. To assess the participant retention rate through 6 months after treatment initiation 4. To assess the intervention acceptability in terms of participants' engagement with and rating of the chat messaging intervention. 5. To assess the safety of the intervention 6. To estimate the intervention effect on alcohol use outcomes and liver functions 7. To synthesise data to inform the sample size calculation in the future definitive trial 8. To explore the participants' perception and experiences in the chat-based intervention
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
106
A trained counsellor will interact with a participant individually and provide personalised alcohol reduction information and advice via a mobile instant messaging app in real time for 3 months from randomisation.
Brief counselling (5 to 10 mins) to reduce drinking and a self-help booklet
Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Recruitment rate
Number of participants divided by the number of eligible subjects
Time frame: Through recruitment completion, about 8 months
Retention rate
Number of participants completed the follow-up divided by the number of participants
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
Weekly alcohol consumption
Assessed by questions 1 and 2 of AUDIT-C
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
Eligibility rate
Number of eligible patients divided by the number of patients screened
Time frame: Through recruitment completion, about 8 months
Weekly alcohol consumption
Assessed by questions 1 and 2 of AUDIT-C
Time frame: 3 months after randomisation
Frequency of heavy episodic drinking
Self-reported
Time frame: 3 months after randomisation
Frequency of heavy episodic drinking
Assessed by question three of AUDIT-C
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
AUDIT score and level
Assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Time frame: 3 months after randomisation
AUDIT score and level
Assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
Total alcohol consumption in the past week
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
Past 7-day alcohol abstinence
Self-reported
Time frame: 3 months after randomisation
Past 7-day alcohol abstinence
Self-reported
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
Past 30-day alcohol abstinence
Self-reported
Time frame: 3 months after randomisation
Past 30-day alcohol abstinence
Self-reported
Time frame: 6 months after randomisation
Past 7-day total alcohol consumption
Measured in grams
Time frame: 3 months after randomisation
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