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

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.