Social Media Psychosocial Support Group in Reducing Alcohol Consumption

Social Media Psychosocial Support Group to Reduce Alcohol Consumption in Women: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This proposed study aims to develop and examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a proactive intervention model that combines brief psychological counselling, Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and social media psychosocial support group to reduce alcohol consumption in women.

Targeted participants are adult women with a total a total score≥3 in Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (AUDIT-C). Sixty participants will be actively recruited from the social media platform in Hong Kong.

This study will be a two-arm (allocation ratio:1:1; permutated block size of 2, 4, and 8), single blinded, parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with follow-ups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-enrollment using consolidated standards of reporting (CONSORT) to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The control group will receive an evidence-based intervention composed of brief psychological counselling and health education, 4-week EMA and social media psychosocial support group, guided by comprehensive assessment. Surveys will be collected via telephone. Semi-structured individual telephone or face-to-face indepth interviews will be conducted with the participants in the intervention group to understand the experience and the perceptions towards the EMA data collection and ocial media psychosocial support group intervention on alcohol consumption.

The clinical outcome of this study will be the difference in the alcohol consumption, anxiety and depressive levels, stress levels, and family well-being between the two groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult women (age 18+),
• Had a total score ≥3 in AUDIT-C [suggesting at-risk drinkers (i.e., binge drinking)]( potential distress symptoms),
• Able to read and understand Chinese and use an instant messaging app weekly

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who are undergoing psychiatric/psychological treatment