title: Examining perceptions of a smartphone-based intervention system for alcohol use disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study presents results from qualitative interviews conducted with participants in a study on the effectiveness of the Location-Based Monitoring and Intervention System for Alcohol Use Disorders (LBMI-A), a smartphone-based, stand-alone intervention application (app) for adults with alcohol use disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were provided an LBMI-A-enabled smartphone to use during a 6-week pilot study. The LBMI-A was composed of psychoeducational modules, assessment and feedback of alcohol use patterns, geographic high-risk location monitoring and alerts, and in vivo assessment and intervention for alcohol cravings and help with managing psychological distress. Semistructured interviews were conducted with all participants following 6 weeks of interacting with the LBMI-A app (n=26). Interviews explored user perceptions of the ease and utility of LBMI-A features, module helpfulness, barriers to use, and recommendations for improvements to the program. Researchers applied a systematic qualitative coding process to transcripts that included both a priori themes identified as important by the research team and new themes that emerged during the coding process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Narrative analysis found the emergence of five main themes identified by LBMI-A users as the most helpful functions of the phone: (1) Awareness, (2) Accountability, (3) Skill Transference, (4) Tracking Progress, and (5) Prompts. These themes are explored, and implications of these findings for future smartphone-based interventions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alaska , Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giroux
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: Diane K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dulin
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D040421:Cell Phone; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: behavioral health; telecommunications; telehealth; telepathology