title: A pilot study on the feasibility and acceptability of a text message-based aftercare treatment programme among alcohol outpatients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the feasibility, acceptability and initial effectiveness of a text message-based aftercare treatment programme among alcohol outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clients treated for alcohol use disorders from three Swiss outpatient alcohol treatment centres were invited by their counsellors to participate in a study testing an interactive aftercare programme employing the use of text messages and personal phone calls. Fifty study participants were randomly assigned to either the 6-month aftercare programme (n = 25) or treatment as usual (n = 25). The intervention consisted of (a) monitoring of self-selected drinking goals at regular intervals, (b) motivational text messages to stick to self-selected drinking goals and (c) proactive telephone calls from counsellors when participants neglected to stick to their drinking goals or expressed a need for support. Follow-up interviews were conducted 6 months after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Throughout the programme, participants received a total of 421 text message prompts. Out of these, participants provided valid replies to 371 (88.1%) within 48 h. Out of the 25 participants in the intervention group, 11 (44.0%) sent at least one call-for-help reply. Based on complete case data, at risk alcohol use at follow-up was 41.7% in the control group and 28.6% in the intervention group (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.16-1.95, P = 0.36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interactive low-intensive aftercare programme was well accepted by the participants. Testing its efficacy within an adequately powered randomized controlled trial might be reasonable.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction at Zurich University, Zurich, Switzerland severin.haug@isgf.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Severin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald at HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lucht
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine and Prevention, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction at Zurich University, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schaub
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013689:Telephone; D060145:Text Messaging