NCT07450248

The Use of Telephone-based ACT for Quitting Alcohol in the Young Population With Hazardous or Harmful Alcohol Use.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Assist Young Adults With Hazardous or Harmful Alcohol Use to Quit Drinking

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 288 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 35 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a telephone-based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in assisting young adult drinkers with hazardous or harmful alcohol use (HH drinkers) to quit drinking. Hypothesis to be tested: Primary hypothesis: 1) those who receive telephone-based ACT will report a significantly higher biochemical validated abstinence than the control groups. Secondary hypotheses are that compared with the control groups, those who receive telephone-based ACT will show: 2) significantly higher self-reported 30-day abstinence, 3) significantly greater reduction in drinking, and 4) significantly higher psychological flexibility. Design and subjects: A Hong Kong randomized controlled trial with 2-arm waitlist controlled trial design on 288 individuals (aged 18-35 years, able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese, and with AUDIT scores≥8). Study instruments: Biochemical-validated abstinence (Urine strips), timeline Follow-Back questionnaire, self-reported 30-day abstinence and Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index, Short-Form 6 Dimensions and semi-structured interviews. Interventions: The intervention group(n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based ACT. The waitlist control group (n=144) will receive 6-weekly telephone-based social support intervention. Main outcome measures: Primary outcome is biochemical-validated abstinence at the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes include self-reported 30-day abstinence alcohol reduction, and psychological flexibility at baseline, post-program, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Data analysis: Descriptive statistics, generalized estimating equations, multiple imputation, intention-to-treat, per protocol analyses, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Expected results: The telephone-based ACT is effective in assisting HH drinkers to quit drinking.

Conditions

• Alcohol Abstinence

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Telephone-based ACT	Each participant will join a six-session weekly telephone-based ACT programme conducted by the interventionists. Each session will last approximately 45-60 minutes.
BEHAVIORAL	Telephone-based social support	Participants will receive weekly 45-minute telephone-based social support from an interventionist(not involved in the intervention group) for 6 weeks, which mimics the time and attention received by those in the intervention group.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-08-01
• Primary completion: 2029-08-01
• Completion: 2029-08-01
• First posted: 2026-03-04
• Last updated: 2026-03-04