A Multimodal Mobile Sleep Intervention for Young Adults Engaged in Risky Drinking: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND This paper describes the research protocol for a randomized, controlled trial of a multimodal mobile sleep intervention for heavy-drinking young adults. Young adults report the highest rates of heavy, risky alcohol consumption and are a priority population for alcohol prevention and intervention efforts. Alcohol strategies that leverage their other health concerns and utilize technology may offer an innovative solution. Poor sleep is common among young adults and a risk factor for developing an alcohol use disorder. Moreover, young adults are interested in information to help them sleep better and behavioral sleep interventions address alcohol use as a standard practice. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a 2-week multimodal mobile sleep intervention for reducing drinks consumed per week among heavy-drinking young adults. We will explore the effects on alcohol-related consequences and quantitative and qualitative sleep characteristics as secondary aims. The goals of the study are to identify the optimal combination of sleep intervention components for improving drinking outcomes, the feasibility and acceptability of these components, and the potential mechanisms by which these components may promote alcohol behavior change. METHODS Young adults (ages 18-25) who report recent heavy drinking will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) mobile sleep hygiene advice (n=30); (2) mobile sleep hygiene advice + sleep/alcohol diary self-monitoring (n=30); or (3) mobile sleep hygiene advice + sleep/alcohol diary self-monitoring + sleep/alcohol data feedback. For the feedback component, participants will complete 2 virtual sessions with a health coach during which they will receive summaries of their sleep and alcohol data and the potential association between them as well as brief advice tailored to their data. All participants will wear sleep and alcohol biosensors daily for 2 weeks for objective assessments of these outcomes. RESULTS Recruitment began in December 2018 and will conclude in 2021. To date, 105 participants have consented to the study. CONCLUSIONS Ultimately, this research could result in an efficacious, low-cost intervention that has broad population reach through the use of technology and a substantial public health impact by reducing alcohol use disorder risk at a crucial developmental stage. CLINICALTRIAL NCT03658954 - registered at clinicaltrials.gov