SARA - Substance Abuse Research Assistant
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 14 - 24 |
| Updated: | 1/24/2018 |
| Start Date: | August 24, 2017 |
| End Date: | May 31, 2018 |
| Contact: | Meredith Kotov, MS |
| Email: | mphilyaw@med.umich.edu |
| Phone: | 734-232-0361 |
Developing a Flexible App Data Collection Tool for Substance Use Research
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of engagement strategies for increasing
daily data collection adherence among substance-using youth between the ages of 14 and 24.
The primary hypotheses of this study are that: (1) receiving a reinforcer after completing
daily data collection activities will predict next-day completion of targeted data collection
activities; and (2) receiving a notification prior to 6pm (when data collection activities
open) will predict same-day completion of data collection activities.
daily data collection adherence among substance-using youth between the ages of 14 and 24.
The primary hypotheses of this study are that: (1) receiving a reinforcer after completing
daily data collection activities will predict next-day completion of targeted data collection
activities; and (2) receiving a notification prior to 6pm (when data collection activities
open) will predict same-day completion of data collection activities.
Substance use among adolescents and emerging adults remains an alarming public health issue
which is associated with the leading causes of death. Although mobile applications are a
promising data collection tool for understanding substance use among youth, existing mobile
applications are limited in that they are not readily modifiable nor designed for long-term
use. To address these challenges, our research team has developed a prototype mobile
application named SARA (Substance Abuse Research Assistant) that contains multiple data
collection tools (e.g., ecological momentary assessments, active tasks) and features various
engagement strategies (reinforcers or notifications) designed to encourage data collection
adherence over an extended period of time.
Baseline reinforcers which are administered to all participants include: (1) a virtual
aquarium that participants see after opening the app; (2) virtual fish to populate the
aquarium, which participants can earn points to unlock by completing daily data collection
activities; (3) a new aquarium interface (i.e., leveling up) that participants unlock after
using the app for a predetermined amount of time; (4) small financial rewards for each 3-day
streak of completing daily data collection activities; and (5) reminder text messages/phone
calls from research staff following predetermined reminder schedules. Key reinforcers and
notifications are described in detail in the "intervention" section.
This study examines the impact of these key engagement strategies on participant compliance
with daily data collection activities over a 30 day field testing period. The primary
analyses will use a log linear generalization. The primary longitudinal binary outcome for
the reinforcers will be whether on the following day the participant completes one or more
self-report validated survey items. The secondary longitudinal binary outcome for the
reinforcers will be whether on the following day the participant completes both active tasks.
Survey questions answered prior to the randomization as well as the completion of one or more
survey questions on the day prior to randomization, and the completion of both active tasks
on the day prior to randomization, may be used as control variables in the above analyses of
reinforcers. The primary longitudinal binary outcome for the notifications will be whether on
the same day the participant completes one or more self-report survey questions. The
secondary longitudinal binary outcome for the notifications will be whether on the same day
the participant completes both active tasks. The completion of one or more survey questions
on the day prior to, and the completion of both active tasks on the day prior to, the
randomization will be included as control variables for the notifications.
which is associated with the leading causes of death. Although mobile applications are a
promising data collection tool for understanding substance use among youth, existing mobile
applications are limited in that they are not readily modifiable nor designed for long-term
use. To address these challenges, our research team has developed a prototype mobile
application named SARA (Substance Abuse Research Assistant) that contains multiple data
collection tools (e.g., ecological momentary assessments, active tasks) and features various
engagement strategies (reinforcers or notifications) designed to encourage data collection
adherence over an extended period of time.
Baseline reinforcers which are administered to all participants include: (1) a virtual
aquarium that participants see after opening the app; (2) virtual fish to populate the
aquarium, which participants can earn points to unlock by completing daily data collection
activities; (3) a new aquarium interface (i.e., leveling up) that participants unlock after
using the app for a predetermined amount of time; (4) small financial rewards for each 3-day
streak of completing daily data collection activities; and (5) reminder text messages/phone
calls from research staff following predetermined reminder schedules. Key reinforcers and
notifications are described in detail in the "intervention" section.
This study examines the impact of these key engagement strategies on participant compliance
with daily data collection activities over a 30 day field testing period. The primary
analyses will use a log linear generalization. The primary longitudinal binary outcome for
the reinforcers will be whether on the following day the participant completes one or more
self-report validated survey items. The secondary longitudinal binary outcome for the
reinforcers will be whether on the following day the participant completes both active tasks.
Survey questions answered prior to the randomization as well as the completion of one or more
survey questions on the day prior to randomization, and the completion of both active tasks
on the day prior to randomization, may be used as control variables in the above analyses of
reinforcers. The primary longitudinal binary outcome for the notifications will be whether on
the same day the participant completes one or more self-report survey questions. The
secondary longitudinal binary outcome for the notifications will be whether on the same day
the participant completes both active tasks. The completion of one or more survey questions
on the day prior to, and the completion of both active tasks on the day prior to, the
randomization will be included as control variables for the notifications.
Inclusion criteria:
1. Between the ages of 14 and 24,
2. Has an Android or iPhone smartphone,
3. Self-reported past-month binge drinking (4 drinks for females/5 drinks for males on
one occasion) and/or any past-month cannabis use in the absence of a medical marijuana
card
Exclusion criteria:
1. Unable to understand English,
2. Not medically stable at intake,
3. Unable to provide informed consent/assent (e.g., cognitively impaired, intoxicated) at
intake,
4. Parental consent cannot be obtained at intake (for participants age 14-17),
5. Unable to download the SARA app on smartphone at intake
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