Integrated Digital Health Approach to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Use and Chronic Pain Among Rural Populations

The current proposal represents an extension of previous research on the use of asmartphone‐based intervention to reduce chronic pain and hazardous drinking among thosein rural settings. The study is a randomized controlled trial that tests the efficacy ofdigital intervention for reducing pain intensity and interference and the quantity ofalcohol consumption. Participants are recruited through social media and complete anonline pre‐screener to determine eligibility. This is followed by a telephone screener toconfirm eligibility before scheduling baseline. All subsequent study assessmentprocedures are conducted through videoconferencing online. Following baseline assessmentguided by an RA, participants are randomized to the INTERVENTION (INTV) or atreatment‐as‐usual CONTROL (CTL). Those in the INTV condition meet with a healthcounselor for up to 50 minutes and then complete an 8‐week smartphone‐based interventionwith weekly SMS based brief coaching. This in the CTL group meet with the healthcounselor only. Participants complete additional assessments at 3‐months and 8‐monthspost ‐baseline. The 8‐month assessment is the primary timepoint and assesses painexperience and alcohol use as measured by self‐report and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) froma participant administered, RA supervised, finger stick. It is hypothesized that those inthe INTV condition will show lower ratings of pain and less alcohol consumption at8‐months post‐baseline.