Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Dec 11, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Dec 11, 2024 - Feb 5, 2025
Date Accepted: Jun 18, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Feasibility of mHealth Strategies to Promote Use of Wrist-worn Alcohol Biosensors Among Young Adults with HIV: Protocol for the Engage Micro-randomized Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Alcohol use among young adults with HIV (YAWH) is disproportionately high compared to other age groups with HIV, despite its negative health-related consequences. However, alcohol use interventions tailored to the interests and needs of YAWH are scarce. Self-management interventions that include self-monitoring components have the potential to improve chronic illness outcomes and mitigate alcohol misuse. Although wearable technologies promote self-monitoring behaviors and facilitate the delivery of personalized feedback, people rarely adhere to the long-term use of wearables.
Objective:
The primary aim of this pilot study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of translating theoretically-grounded reciprocity and personalized feedback strategies. These strategies will be delivered through app-based messages to promote YAWH engagement in wearing a wrist-worn alcohol biosensor.
Methods:
Forty YAWH (ages 18-29 years) will be enrolled in a 30-day pilot micro-randomized trial (MRT). The MRT is an experimental design that facilitates the development and optimization of mobile health (mHealth) just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs). Participants will wear the BACtrack Skyn biosensor, a wrist-worn transdermal alcohol biosensor, and play a smartphone-based game geared towards earning points to care for virtual animals. Longer alcohol biosensor wear time will translate into earning more game points. Every morning and evening, participants will be randomized at equal probability to receive either: (i) a reciprocity message offering either a no-strings attached game point or a $1 monetary gift, (ii) a message with personalized feedback about their Skyn biosensor wear time, or (iii) no message.
Results:
Data collected during this 30-day MRT will be used to examine the feasibility and acceptability of translating theoretically-grounded strategies into messages suitable for a mHealth alcohol intervention tailored to YAWH. Recruitment for this study began in Spring 2024.
Conclusions:
This pilot MRT will provide valuable feasibility and acceptability data and set the stage for a full-scale MRT to optimize the integration of reciprocity and personalized feedback into a JITAI that increases engagement in biosensor-based alcohol self-management among YAWH. Clinical Trial: Nct05431855
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