Efficacy of a Mobile App-Based Coaching Program for Addiction Prevention among Apprentices: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-11, Vol.19 (23), p.15730
• Main Authors: Haug, Severin, Boumparis, Nikolaos, Wenger, Andreas, Schaub, Michael Patrick, Paz Castro, Raquel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictions; Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Applications programs; Behavior, Addictive - prevention & control; Cannabis; Cigarette smoking; Cigarettes; Drinking; Drinking behavior; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Humans; Informed consent; Internet; Intervention; Male; Mobile Applications; Prevention; Risk management; Risk reduction; Risk taking; Schools; Smoking; Students; Teenagers; Text messaging; Tobacco
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315730

Addictive behaviors such as tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, at-risk alcohol consumption, cannabis use or compulsive internet use are common among apprentices. is a mobile app-based preventive intervention program for apprentices that promotes life skills and reduces risky behavior. The present study tested the efficacy of for addiction prevention among apprentices in Switzerland within a controlled trial. Two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial including assessments at baseline and follow-up after 6 months. Participants of the intervention group received coaching by a conversational agent for 16 weeks. The main outcome measure was a composite score for addictive behaviors, which included (1) at-risk drinking, (2) tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, (3) cannabis use and (4) problematic internet use. A total of 2275 students from 159 vocational school classes in Switzerland, were invited for study participation. Of these, 1351 (59.4%) students with a mean age of 17.3 years and a male proportion of 56.6% provided informed consent to participate. The follow up assessment at month 6 was completed by 962 (71.2%) study participants. The results concerning the primary outcome showed a stronger decrease of addictive behaviors between baseline and follow up in the intervention group compared to the control group. In particular, significant effects were observed for at-risk drinking and problematic Internet use, while no significant effects were observed for tobacco/e-cigarette smoking and cannabis use. The majority of apprentices invited for program participation within vocational schools participated in the program for addiction prevention. The mobile app-based coaching was effective in reducing risk behaviors such as at-risk drinking and problematic Internet use in a group of adolescents who have an especially high risk of engaging in addictive activities.