ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03344666Updated Jul 5, 2024

SafERteens M-Coach

An interventional study of Step 1 Treatment BI+HC and Step 1 Treatment BI+TM in Alcohol Drinking and Violence, sponsored by University of Michigan. Completed at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 14 Years to 20 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-07-05.

Sponsored by University of Michigan · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
400
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
14 Years to 20 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study will use a SMART (Sequential, Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial) design to optimize adaptive interventions (AIs) for adolescents reporting alcohol misuse and violent behaviors. The study will test the efficacy of state-of-the-art adaptive intervention delivery approaches (text messaging, remote therapy) for reducing alcohol use and violent behaviors among urban teens. Given the morbidly/mortality associated with alcohol use and violence, this study will have significant impact by using a SMART design to identify the optimal intervention strategy to produce and sustain outcomes among at-risk youth.

Read the detailed description

The specific aims are to: 1) Compare the efficacy of adaptive interventions (AIs) that begin with BI+TM (brief intervention + text messaging) vs. BI+HC (brief intervention + remote health coach) on reducing alcohol misuse and violent behaviors among youth while in the Emergency Department (ED); and, 2) Identify the most efficacious second-stage strategy post-ED visit for those who initially respond and for those who do not. Specifically, 700 youth (ages 14-20) in the ED screening positive for alcohol use and violent behaviors will be randomly assigned to: BI+TM or BI+HC. After receiving the SafERteens BI in the ED, youth will complete weekly assessments over an 8 week period to tailor intervention content and measure mechanisms of change, with one month determination of participant response (e.g., binge drinking, violence). Responders in each arm will be re-randomized to continued condition (e.g., stay the course or maintenance), or reduced condition (e.g., stepped down). Non-responders will be re-randomized to continued condition (e.g., stay the course or maintenance), or intensified condition (e.g., stepped up). Follow-up assessments will take place at 4 and 8 months post-baseline.

02

Conditions studied

  • Alcohol Drinking
  • Violence

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03

In context

Alcohol Drinking

701 studies on the registry are indexed under Alcohol Drinking; 133 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 400 is above the median of 122 across 607 interventional studies indexed under Alcohol Drinking.

Browse Alcohol Drinking studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Michigan is the lead sponsor of 1,506 studies on the registry; 192 are open to participants now.

Of its 169 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 133 (79%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
14 Years to 20 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • patients age 14-20 years presenting to the ED for any reason(except exclusions as noted below)
  • past 4 month binge alcohol use and violent behaviors (i.e., physical aggression)
  • have a cell phone with texting capabilities and a cell phone plan for texting

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • patients who do not understand English
  • patients deemed unable to provide due to mental incompetence, incarceration, or medically unstable (abnormal vital signs requiring urgent resuscitation) or
  • present for acute suicidal ideation or acute suicide attempt, child abuse, or sexual assault
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Factorial assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
400 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    First Treatment

    Participants will be randomized to first treatment to compare Brief Intervention + Health Coach (Step 1 Treatment BI+HC) to Brief Intervention + Text Messages (Step 1 Treatment BI+TM). Participants in the BI+HC will receive a BI in the ED, followed by weekly sessions with the Health Coach for 4 weeks. Participants in the BI+TM will receive a BI in the ED, followed by daily TMs for 4 weeks.

    Behavioral: Step 1 Treatment BI+HC · Behavioral: Step 1 Treatment BI+TM

  • Experimental
    Second Treatment for Responders and Non-Responders

    Beginning in week 5, all participants will be classified as Responders or Non-Responders (based on weekly assessments) and re-randomized. Step 2 Treatment Responders: Responders will be randomized to either stay the course or be stepped down. Specifically, participants in the BI+HC will either continue to receive the HC or stepped down to receive a control brochure; participants in the BI+TM will either continue to receive the TM or stepped down to receive a control brochure. Step 2 Treatment Non-Responders: Non-Responders will be randomized to either stay the course or be stepped up. Specifically, participants in the BI+HC will either continue to receive the HC or stepped up to receive a HC+; participants in the BI+TM will either continue to receive the TM or stepped up to receive HC.

    Behavioral: Step 2 Treatment Responders · Behavioral: Step 2 Treatment Non-Responders

Interventions

  • BehavioralStep 1 Treatment BI+HC

    Participants in the Brief intervention + Health Coach (BI+HC) will receive a BI in the ED, followed by weekly sessions with the Health Coach for 4 weeks, which will occur by phone or in person. During sessions, the HC will review the prior week's progress, and discuss goals and plans for the following week.

  • BehavioralStep 1 Treatment BI+TM

    Participants in the Brief intervention + Text messages (BI+TM) will receive a BI in the ED, followed by daily TMs for 4 weeks. TM's are tailored based on weekly surveys and focus on motives for alcohol and violence and strategies to reduce involvement.

  • BehavioralStep 2 Treatment Responders

    Participants in the BI+HC assigned to stay the course (e.g., continue to receive the HC) will have 4 more weekly sessions with the HC. Participants in the BI+TM assigned to stay the course (e.g., continue to receive the TM) will receive 4 more weeks of TM. Participants in the BI+HC or BI+TM assigned to stepped down control will receive a brochure containing community resources.

  • BehavioralStep 2 Treatment Non-Responders

    Participants in the BI+HC assigned to be stepped up will receive HC+, which will consist of weekly sessions as well as on daily TMs from the HC. Participants in the BI+HC assigned to stay the course (e.g., continue to receive the HC) will have 4 more weekly sessions with the HC. Participants in the BI+TM assigned to be stepped up will receive the HC, which consists of 4 weekly sessions with the HC. Participants in the BI+TM assigned to stay the course (e.g., continue to receive the TM) will receive 4 more weeks of TM.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Alcohol Consumption

    Alcohol consumption will be assessed using the 30-day Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB). The TLFB will capture information on the frequency and quantity of alcohol use including binge drinking, with total consumption calculated.

    Time frame: 4 months and 8 months post baseline

  2. Change in Physical Violence

    Physical violence will be assessed using the 30-day Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB). The TLFB will capture information on the frequency and severity of violent behaviors (e.g. push, shove, slap, kick, punch, weapon/firearm use or carriage etc.), with total violence calculated weighted by severity.

    Time frame: 4 months and 8 months post baseline

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Alcohol Consequences

    Alcohol related consequences will be measured using the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (YAACQ). This study will use a 24-item scale with the following responses (and values): 0 = None 1. = 1-2 times 2. = 3-5 times 3. = More than 5 times The responses will be summed for a total score.

    Time frame: 4 months and 8 months post baseline

  2. Change in Violence Consequences

    Violence related consequences will be assessed using 13 items with following responses (and values): 0 = None 1. = 1-2 times 2. = 3-5 times 3. = More than 5 times These items will assess consequences such as injury, arrest, trouble at school or work, arguments or trouble getting along with friends and/or family members, feeling guilty, unable to stop/desire to fight, and worry or revenge as a result of participant's fighting. Responses are summed to create a total score.

    Time frame: 4 months and 8 months post baseline

07

Study locations

4 sites
  • University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
  • Ascension St. John Hospital - Emergency Department
    Detroit, Michigan 48236, United States
  • Hurley Medical Center - Emergency Department
    Flint, Michigan 48503, United States
  • Covenant Healthcare Emergency Care Center
    Saginaw, Michigan 48602, United States
08

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from May 2018 to primary completion in Jul 2023, 62 months.

Of 328 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Alcohol Drinking, half reached primary completion within 24 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 45. This study's 62 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 336 studies reached it within 24 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 45.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Nov 3, 2017
First posted
Nov 17, 2017
StartActual
May 1, 2018
Primary completionActual
Jul 25, 2023
CompletionActual
Jul 25, 2023
Last update
Jul 5, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 5, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03344666
Responsible party
Maureen A Walton (Professor, University of Michigan) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 17, 2017
Start date
May 1, 2018
Primary completion
Jul 25, 2023
Completion
Jul 25, 2023
Last update
Jul 5, 2024

Study contacts

Maureen A Walton, MPH, PhD
principal investigator · University of Michigan

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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