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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02530645

Development and Testing of a Smartphone Application to Reduce Substance Use and Sexual Risk Among Homeless Young Adults

A pilot trial (N=60) will be conducted to test the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of OnTrack (a smartphone application to self-monitor substance use and sexual behaviors among homeless young adults) plus a brief motivational intervention (BMI), in comparison to treatment as usual (TAU) at Covenant House New York (CHNY) for those with substance abuse problems and who engage in risky sex. Following referral, screening, and eligibility determination, 60 participants will complete informed consent and be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: 1) TAU or 2) OnTrack + BMI. All participants will be assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after baseline to evaluate alcohol consumption, marijuana use, HIV sexual risk behaviors, and other relevant variables.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Use Alcohol Drinking Behavior Drinking Behavior Marijuana Use Mental Disorders Sexual Behavior Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

18 year–21 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Covenant House New York

New York, United States

About this study

Homeless young adults have high rates of substance abuse and HIV infection and, therefore, developing effective, acceptable, and sustainable interventions to reduce their substance abuse and sexual risk behaviors is of high public health significance.

HealthCall for Smartphone (HealthCall-S) is a smartphone application originally designed for self-monitoring of alcohol use and other HIV-related health behaviors, and receiving personalized feedback on these behaviors among urban substance-abusing HIV primary care patients. Building upon prior HealthCall-S studies, individual qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 homeless young adults (age 18-21 years) at Covenant House New York (CHNY), the largest provider of crisis shelter and services for homeless young adults (age 18-21 years) in NYC. The purpose of the individual interviews was to obtain reactions to various aspects of HealthCall-S and determine how it could be adapted to better suit the needs and interests of homeless young adults. HealthCall-S has since been adapted to target alcohol use, marijuana use, and sexual risk behaviors among homeless young adults and renamed 'OnTrack.' A pilot trial (N=60) will be conducted to test the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of OnTrack plus a brief motivational intervention (BMI), in comparison to treatment as usual (TAU) at CHNY for those with substance abuse problems and who engage in risky sex. Following referral, screening, and eligibility determination, 60 participants will complete informed consent and be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: 1) TAU or 2) OnTrack + BMI. All participants will be assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after baseline to evaluate alcohol consumption, marijuana use, HIV sexual risk behaviors, and other relevant variables.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18-21 years of age
  • Engaged in unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex in the past year
  • Drank alcohol in the past year
  • Used marijuana on 4 or more days in past month

Exclusion criteria

  • Actively psychotic, suicidal, or homicidal
  • Does not speak English
  • Has a vision/hearing impairment that would preclude participation
  • Has definite plans to leave the greater New York metropolitan area within the study period

Treatment and study plan

OnTrack

Behavioral

Treatment as Usual

Behavioral

Brief Motivational Interviewing

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

  1. Alcohol use in the last 2 weeks, assessed at baseline and repeatedly so that change can be analyzed

    Time frame: Baseline, 2, 4 (end of treatment), 6 weeks

    As measured by number of drinks per drinking day and percentage of days abstinent.

  2. Marijuana use in the last 2 weeks, assessed at baseline and repeatedly so that change can be analyzed

    Time frame: Baseline, 2, 4 (end of treatment), 6 weeks

    As measured by times used marijuana per day.

  3. HIV sexual risk behavior in the last 2 weeks, assessed at baseline and repeatedly so that change can be analyzed

    Time frame: Baseline, 2, 4 (end of treatment), 6 weeks

    As measured by the number of days the respondent engaged in unprotected sex.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

New York State Psychiatric Institute

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Aug 21, 2015
Registry last updated
Oct 12, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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