Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40811123›Full record

Trial reportPsychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors2025

Effect of smartphone breathalyzer feedback on willingness to drive in moderately intoxicated individuals: A randomized trial.

Jeffrey P Ebert, Henry R Kranzler, Ian J Barnett, Jessica E Hemmons, Ruiqi Yan, Evan Spencer, M Kit Delgado

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Jeffrey P EbertPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.ORCID 0009-0004-4044-0972
Henry R KranzlerPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Ian J BarnettPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Jessica E HemmonsPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Ruiqi YanPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Evan SpencerPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
M Kit DelgadoPerelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Funding

Enabling Medical Research Growth in Emergency MedicineK12HL109009 · NHLBI · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI KIMMEL, STEPHEN E. · 2011 to 2015
$3.4M
Abramson Family FoundationCDC HHSInstitute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics/Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral EconomicsNCIPC CDC HHS R49 CE002474NHLBI NIH HHS K12 HL109009NIH HHS
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe present study examined the impact of smartphone breathalyzer feedback on individuals' decisions to drive when they are moderately intoxicated. Although the legal driving limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the United States is < 0.08%, crash risk begins to increase at moderate BACs ≥ 0.04%.

methodWe conducted a laboratory-based, randomized controlled trial in 20 adult drivers aged 21-39 with a history of binge drinking. Participants were given sex- and weight-based doses of alcohol over 90 min with a target peak BAC of 0.10%. Smartphone breathalyzer measurements were taken every 15 min until the participant's BAC declined to 0.03%. Ten participants received feedback on their BAC readings, while the other 10 were blinded to BAC readings. After each measurement, participants were asked to rate on 10-point scales how much they were intoxicated, able to drive, and willing to drive.

resultsAt BACs ≥ 0.04% and < 0.08%, learning about BAC was associated with lower perceived intoxication (-2.0, confidence interval [-3.1, -0.8]), greater perceived ability to drive (2.4, confidence interval [1.0, 3.9]), and greater willingness to drive (3.9, confidence interval [2.5, 5.3]), all

conclusionsBeing aware of their BAC may make drinkers more willing to drive up to the legal BAC limit of 0.08%, despite being in a range associated with increased crash risk. We recommend that breathalyzer apps provide salient feedback about the risks of driving with a BAC in the moderately intoxicated range. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Indexed as

Alcoholic IntoxicationAutomobile DrivingBinge DrinkingBlood Alcohol ContentSmartphoneAdultBreath TestsFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultBlood Alcohol Content

Identifiers

PMID40811123
PMCPMC12356493

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
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.