title: Self-management and Shared Decision-Making in Alcohol Dependence via a Mobile App: a Pilot Study.
abstract: Mobile applications (apps) have created new opportunities in the field of alcohol dependence (AD) within new paradigms of shared decision-making and self-management. The aim of this study is to report the results of a pilot study testing the usability of and satisfaction with a mobile app (called SIDEAL) in AD patients.
  
  
  
  Adult AD outpatients were included. SIDEAL was installed on patients' personal phones. The Timeline Followback (TLFB) method for the preceding 6 weeks was administered both at baseline and after 6 weeks (end of the study). Self-reports from the app were also assessed at the end of the study and compared to data provided by the TLFB. An online questionnaire about usability and satisfaction was administered to participants after completion of the study. Exploratory efficacy analyses were conducted.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four patients were included (mean age 48 years (SD 11.3), women 50%). Most patients (22/24) selected a goal to reduce their consumption. Patients used the self-register module of the app for an average of 80% of the study days. The consumption and medication self-register modules were the most valued, as along with the weekly feedback provided by the app about participants' weekly rate of usage. Participants' satisfaction with the app was high. Significant reductions were observed in alcohol consumption (binge drinking days in the last 6 weeks declined from 25 (SD 18.6) to 5.8 (SD 8), p < 0.001; mean daily alcohol consumption in standard units declined from 6.5 (SD 4.3) to 1.9 (SD 1.8), p < 0.001). On most days (88%), patients achieved their self-imposed objectives.
  
  
  
  SIDEAL is a well-accepted and highly used app by AD patients that could improve their efficacy in managing their AD. Further larger, randomized studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: GRAC, Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomèdica (FCRB), RETICS (Red de Trastornos adictivos), University of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170 08036, Barcelona, Spain. pbarrio@clinic.ub.es.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.affiliation: GRAC, Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomèdica (FCRB), RETICS (Red de Trastornos adictivos), University of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: GRAC, Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomèdica (FCRB), RETICS (Red de Trastornos adictivos), University of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: GRAC, Addictions Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), RETICS (Red de Trastornos Adictivos), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gual
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D040421:Cell Phone; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063731:Mobile Applications; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057566:Self Report; D000073278:Self-Management / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Alcohol use disorders; Information and communication technologies (ICT); Mobile apps; Self-management; Shared decision-making; eHealth; mHealth