JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Despite the importance and popularity of mutual support groups, there have been no systematic attempts to implement and evaluate routine outcome monitoring (ROM) in these settings. Unlike other mutual support groups for addiction, trained facilitators lead all SMART Recovery groups, thereby providing an opportunity to implement ROM as a routine component of SMART Recovery groups.

Objective:

This study protocol describes a stage one pilot study designed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, purpose-built mHealth ROM and Feedback app (“Smart Track”) in SMART Recovery Australia mutual support groups. Secondary objectives are to describe Smart Track usage patterns, explore psychometric properties of the ROM items (internal reliability, convergent and divergent validity) and provide preliminary evidence for participant reported outcomes (alcohol and/ other drug use, self-reported recovery and mental health).

Methods:

The Smart Track app was developed during the first phase of this study using participatory design methods and an iterative development process. During phase two, 100 participants from SMART Recovery groups across New South Wales, Australia, will be recruited to a non-randomised, prospective, single-arm trial of the Smart Track app. There are four modes of data collection: (i) ROM data collected from group participants via Smart Track app, (ii) backend app data summarising user interactions with Smart Track; (iii) quantitative interview/survey data of group participants (baseline, 2week- and 2month- follow-up); and (iv) qualitative interviews with group participants (n=20) and facilitators (n=10). Feasibility and acceptability (primary objectives) will be analysed via descriptive statistics, a cost analysis and qualitative evaluation. Secondary objectives are to a) explore the relationship between participant characteristics and app use (via linear regression, graphic representation and latent trajectory analysis, as appropriate); b) provide preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of Smart Track items (via sensitivity to change, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity and exploratory factor analysis) and c) describe participant reported outcomes (via descriptive statistics summarising self-reported addictive behaviour(s), recovery and mental health).

Results:

At the time of submission 13 sites (n=25 groups) had agreed to participate. Enrolment is due to commence in July 2019. Data collection is due to be finalised October 2019.

Conclusions:

To the best of our knowledge, this project will be the first time that ROM and tailored feedback have been used within a mutual support group setting for addictive behaviours. Our study design will provide an opportunity to identify the acceptability of a novel mHealth ROM and feedback app within this setting, and provide detailed information on what factors promote or hinder ROM use within this context. Should Smart Track prove feasible and acceptable, this project offers a new tool that service providers, policy makers and researchers could one day use to understand the impact of SMART Recovery. Clinical Trial: Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) Registration Number: ACTRN12619000686101 Date of Registration: 07/05/2019