title: Optimizing a Text Message Intervention to Reduce Heavy Drinking in Young Adults: Focus Group Findings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent trial results show that an interactive short message service (SMS) text message intervention, Texting to Reduce Alcohol Consumption (TRAC), is effective in reducing heavy drinking in non-treatment-seeking young adults, but may not be optimized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the usability of the TRAC intervention among young adults in an effort to optimize future intervention design.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted five focus groups with 18 young adults, aged 18-25 years, who had a history of heavy drinking and had been randomized to 12 weeks of the TRAC intervention as part of a clinical trial. A trained moderator followed a semistructured interview guide. Focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed to identify themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified four themes regarding user experiences with the TRAC intervention: (1) ease of use, (2) comfort and confidentiality, (3) increased awareness of drinking behavior, and (4) accountability for drinking behavior. Participants' comments supported the existing features of the TRAC intervention, as well as the addition of other features to increase personalization and continuing engagement with the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young adults perceived the TRAC intervention as a useful way to help them reduce heavy drinking on weekends. Components that promote ease of use, ensure confidentiality, increase awareness of alcohol consumption, and increase accountability were seen as important.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States. suffbp@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9628-5260
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suffoletto
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8833-750X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kristan
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9434-3826
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Person Mecca
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1527-2792
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Duncan B
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2644-721X
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Clark
keywords: alcohol; qualitative; text messages; young adult