Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40892594›Full record

ArticleExperimental and clinical psychopharmacology2026

Acceptability and feasibility of a new-generation alcohol biosensor: A mixed methods evaluation in a large community sample.

Silvia Murgia, Catharine E Fairbairn, Nancy P Barnett, Julianne Flanagan, Nigel Bosch

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

5 authors.

Silvia MurgiaDepartment of Psychology, University of Illinois.ORCID 0000-0002-7107-6083
Catharine E FairbairnDepartment of Psychology, University of Illinois.
Nancy P BarnettDepartment of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University.
Julianne FlanaganDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina.
Nigel BoschSchool of Information Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Funding

Examining the Impact of Stress on the Emotionally Reinforcing Properties of Alcohol in Heavy Social Drinkers: A Multimodal Investigation Integrating Laboratory and Ambulatory MethodsR01AA025969 · NIAAA · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · PI Catharine Fairbairn · 2017 to 2026
$3.5M
Towards a Wearable Alcohol Biosensor: Examining the Accuracy of BAC Estimates from New-Generation Transdermal Technology using Large-Scale Human Testing and Machine Learning AlgorithmsR01AA028488 · NIAAA · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · PI Catharine Fairbairn · 2021 to 2026
$2.8M
NIAAA NIH HHS R01 AA025969NIAAA NIH HHS R01 AA028488NIH HHS
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Wearable alcohol biosensors offer an innovative solution for real-time alcohol monitoring, yet concerns about comfort, privacy, and social acceptability have limited their adoption. This study presents the largest real-world evaluation to date of a new-generation wrist-worn alcohol biosensor. In this study, 150 healthy adults (ages 21-54) wore the BACtrack Skyn sensor continuously for 14 days. Using a mixed methods design, we assessed pre- and poststudy feasibility and acceptability through structured surveys and open-ended responses, applying innovative machine learning techniques, including Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency and sentiment analysis, to capture nuanced user experiences at scale. Participants showed high compliance (median wear time: 94.66%), and 77% expressed willingness to extend device use. The device's discreet, smartwatchlike appearance supported high social acceptability, with most users reporting easy integration into daily life even if no significant changes in alcohol consumption were observed. While some discomfort-particularly itching and sleep interference-was reported, overall comfort and usability ratings were favorable. Findings indicate that the new-generation wrist-worn alcohol biosensor is a feasible and well-accepted tool for alcohol monitoring. High compliance and positive user reception highlight its potential for real-world applications. While sensor comfort was generally positively rated, refining the device's fit and materials could enhance wearability over extended periods. These insights contribute to the ongoing development of wearable alcohol biosensors that balance usability, functionality, and user experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingBiosensing TechniquesEthanolWearable Electronic DevicesAdultFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultEthanol

Identifiers

PMID40892594
PMCPMC12964721

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.