Transdermal alcohol sensor wear with individuals accessing treatment for treatment for alcohol dependence with CM
BACKGROUND: This pilot RCT explored the feasibility, strengths, and limitations of using a transdermal alcohol sensor (TAS) to monitor alcohol consumption in individuals in treatment for AUD with contingency management (CM) to promote abstinence or low-level alcohol consumption.
METHODS: Participants were randomised into the control or CM group, both wore the TAS (Brand: BACtrack Skyn) for two weeks in the context of their usual treatment, meeting with the researcher every other weekday.
Meeting 1: Informed consent, randomisation, TAS training.
Meetings 2-6: TAS data download and TLFB and CM rewards if applicable.
Meeting 7: TAS data download, TLFB, CM rewards if applicable, and the post-wear survey.
The sample size is 30 participants. The inclusion criteria were:
1) Receiving alcohol treatment for an AUD in a participating South London alcohol services
2) Aged 18 years+
3) Speak English competently
4) Able to meet throughout the study period
5) Not currently participating in any other research trials
6) Willing to provide informed consent to participate
1) Feasibility was defined as: enrolment rate, participation (attendance, compliance, dropout), device tampering and malfunction rates and the feasibility of using a TAS to measure CM target behaviour and the acceptability of delivering CM to patients.
2) Acceptability was measured as using a post-wear survey. The survey was adapted from Alessi et al., on wearing a TAS and from Miguel et al., on user views of CM.
3) Accuracy was measured by comparing the TAS output to the TLFB.
RESULTS: Data analysis is currently ongoing, preliminary findings show:
A significant positive correlation between TAS and TLFB drinking days (r(17) = .765, p < .001)
Out of the 19 enrolled so far (November 2023), the attendance rate is 118/133 meetings (89%).
Of the 281578 minutes of participation so far (196 days), 243903 minutes have been recorded (87%), 24618 minutes are missing (8%), and 25292 minutes have data collected but temp suggests TAS is removed (9%).
Comfort was rated on average as 8.6 / 10 (with 10 being very comfortable).
All (19/19) who have completed the study said they would wear it again and for longer.
CONCLUSION: By February 2024 data analysis will be completed and able to be discussed in more depth. Depending on the data, but if shown to be acceptable and feasible, TAS could be a new tool to be used in clinical settings to implement CM for alcohol reduction.
