Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33407776›Full record

ArticleTrials2021

ICan, an Internet-based intervention to reduce cannabis use: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Marleen I A Olthof, Matthijs Blankers, Margriet W van Laar, Anna E Goudriaan

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Cannabis use disorder: an overview of treatment approaches in Europe.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Marleen I A OlthofTrimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands. molthof@trimbos.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3800-5363
Matthijs BlankersTrimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Margriet W van LaarTrimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Anna E GoudriaanAmsterdam UMC, Department of Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Trimbos Institute · NLArkin · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHeavy cannabis use is associated with adverse physical and mental health effects. Despite available effective treatments, the majority of heavy cannabis users does not seek professional help. Web-based interventions can provide an alternative for cannabis users who are reluctant to seek professional help. Several web-based cannabis interventions are effective in reducing cannabis use; however, the effect sizes are typically small and attrition rates are typically high. This suggests that web-based programs can be an effective cannabis use intervention for some, while others may need additional substance use treatment after completing a web-based intervention. Therefore, it is important that web-based interventions do not solely focus on reducing cannabis use, but also on improving attitudes towards substance use treatment. The Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) approach appears to be well suited for the purpose of reducing cannabis use and improving substance use treatment utilization. Based on the SBIRT approach-and based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI)-we developed the Internet-based cannabis reduction intervention ICan. METHODS/

designThis protocol paper presents the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which we evaluate the effectiveness of the ICan intervention compared to four online modules of educational information on cannabis in a sample of Dutch frequent cannabis users. The primary outcome measure is frequency of cannabis use. Secondary outcome measures include the quantity of cannabis used (grams), the attitudes towards seeking help and the number of participants who enter specialized treatment services for cannabis use-related problems. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, ICan is the first Internet-based intervention for cannabis users that combines screening, a brief intervention-based on CBT and MI-and referral to treatment options.

trial registrationThe study is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register; identifier NL7668 . Registered on 17 April 2019.

Indexed as

CannabisCognitive Behavioral TherapyInternet-Based InterventionMotivational InterviewingHumansInternetNetherlandsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeCannabiseHealthInterventionSBIRTSubstance use disorderWeb-based program

Identifiers

PMID33407776
PMCPMC7787592
OpenAlexW3118898428

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.