Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34507061›Full record

Trial reportDrug and alcohol dependence2021

A randomized controlled trial of a therapeutic relational agent for reducing substance misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judith J Prochaska, Erin A Vogel, Amy Chieng, Michael Baiocchi, Dale Dagar Maglalang, Sarah Pajarito, Kenneth R Weingardt, Alison Darcy, Athena Robinson

Open access · hybridAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
9.3field-weighted citation impact, top 1% 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

48 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 88 citations in OpenAlex.

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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

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Judith J ProchaskaStanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, USA. Electronic address: jpro@stanford.edu.
Erin A VogelStanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, USA.
Amy ChiengStanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, USA.
Michael BaiocchiDepartment of Epidemiology & Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University, USA.
Dale Dagar MaglalangStanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, USA.
Sarah PajaritoWoebot Health, USA.
Kenneth R WeingardtWoebot Health, USA.
Alison DarcyWoebot Health, USA.
Athena RobinsonWoebot Health, USA.
Stanford University · USWolters Kluwer Health · USStanford Medicine · US

Funding

RCT of Woebot for Substance Use DisordersR44DA048712 · NIDA · WOEBOT LABS, INC. · PI ROBINSON, ATHENA · 2019 to 2021
$1.6M
NIDA NIH HHS R44 DA048712
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), while alcohol and cannabis retail sales increased. During the pandemic, we tested a tailored digital health solution, Woebot-SUDs (W-SUDs), for reducing substance misuse.

methodsIn a randomized controlled trial, we compared W-SUDs for 8 weeks to a waitlist control. U.S. adults (N = 180) who screened positive for substance misuse (CAGE-AID>1) were enrolled June-August 2020. The primary outcome was the change in past-month substance use occasions from baseline to end-of-treatment (EOT). Study retention was 84%. General linear models tested group differences in baseline-to-EOT change scores, adjusting for baseline differences and attrition.

resultsAt baseline, the sample (age M = 40, SD = 12, 65% female, 68% non-Hispanic white) averaged 30.2 (SD = 18.6) substance occasions in the past month. Most (77%) reported alcohol problems, 28% cannabis, and 45% multiple substances; 46% reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Treatment participants averaged 920 in-app text messages (SD = 892, Median = 701); 96% of completed lessons were rated positively; and 88% would recommend W-SUDs. Relative to waitlist, W-SUDs participants significantly reduced past-month substance use occasions (M = -9.1, SE = 2.0 vs. M = -3.3, SE = 1.8; p = .039). Secondary substance use and mood outcomes did not change significantly by group; however, reductions in substance use occasions correlated significantly with increased confidence and fewer substance use problems, cravings, depression and anxiety symptoms, and pandemic-related mental health effects (p-value<.05).

conclusionsW-SUDs was associated with significant reductions in substance use occasions. Reduction in substance use occasions was associated with better outcomes, including improved mental health. W-SUDs satisfaction was high.

Indexed as

COVID-19Substance-Related DisordersAdultFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Artificial intelligenceCOVID-19 pandemicRandomized controlled trialRelational conversational agentSubstance-related disorders

Identifiers

PMID34507061
PMCPMC8423936
OpenAlexW3196926390

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.