Drinks:Ration - Combat Stress Randomized Controlled Trial

Alcohol misuse is higher in the United Kingdom (UK) Armed Forces (AF) than the general population. Previous research has shown that interventions delivered via smartphone are efficacious in promoting self-monitoring of alcohol use, have utility in reducing alcohol consumption and have a broad reach. The main objective of this participant blinded (single-blinded) Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) is to assess the efficacy of a 28-day brief alcohol intervention delivered via a smartphone app (Drinks:Ration) in reducing weekly self-reported alcohol consumption between baseline and 3-month follow-up among veterans who drink at a hazardous or harmful level and are receiving, or have received, support for mental health symptoms in a clinical setting. Methods: In a two-arm single-blinded Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT), a smartphone app which includes interactive features designed to enhance participant motivation and personalised messaging is compared to a smartphone app which only provides Government guidance on alcohol consumption. The trial will be conducted in a veteran population who have sought help through Combat Stress; a UK veteran's mental health charity. Recruitment, consent and data collection is performed automatically through the Drinks:Ration platform. The primary outcome is change in self-reported weekly alcohol consumption between baseline (day 0) and 3-month follow-up (day 84) as measured using the Time-Line Follow back for Alcohol Consumption; secondary outcome measures include 1) change in baseline to 3-month follow-up (day 84) Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test score, and 2) change in baseline to 3-month follow-up (day 84) World Health Organisation Quality of Life-BREF score to assess Quality of Adjusted Life Years. Process evaluation measures include 1) app usage, and 2) usability ratings as measured by the mHealth App Usability Questionnaire. The primary and secondary outcomes will also be re-assessed at 6-month follow-up (day 168) to asses