Experiences of a mobile phone delivered brief intervention for hazardous drinking: A qualitative study nested in the AMBIT trial from Goa, India

Glob Ment Health (Camb). 2023 Sep 7:10:e58. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2023.51. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: This study explores the experiences of participants receiving a mobile-based brief intervention (BI) for hazardous drinking in India, to determine characteristics that influenced engagement and examine perceived reasons for change in alcohol consumption.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adult hazardous drinkers who received a mobile-based BI in the intervention arm of a pilot randomised control trial. Data were coded through an iterative process and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings: Study participants reported a positive experience, with factors such as customised intervention delivery and personal motivation facilitating their engagement. Participants reported a reduction in quantity and frequency of alcohol use. This was credited to the intervention, particularly, its provision of health-related information, goal-setting content and strategies to manage drinking. Apart from alcohol reduction, participants reported improvements in diet, lifestyle, wellbeing, and familial relations.

Implication: By providing a context to explain the impact of the intervention, the learnings from this study can be used to strengthen the implementation of mobile-based interventions. This study outlines the scope for further research in digital health, such as Internet-based health interventions, and incorporating digital interventions within the ambit of existing health care programmes.

Keywords: alcohol; brief interventions; hazardous drinking; mHealth; qualitative.