Development and Evaluation of a Theory and Evidence-based Intervention to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Consumption Among Treatment Seeking Smokers

This study will evaluate the implementation of a fully automated, direct-to-patient digital alcohol intervention embedded within the STOP Program's patient portal. The STOP Program is a large-scale, population-based smoking cessation initiative operating in over 300 primary care settings across Ontario. It provides free nicotine replacement therapy and behavioural support through a digital portal that facilitates patient self-enrollment and systematic data collection. As part of this study, patients who score ≥8 on the AUDIT-C will be offered the opportunity to view a brief intervention (BI). Those with an AUDIT-C score ≥10 will receive a cautionary message along with tailored content designed to help reduce hazardous drinking. The intervention was developed based on a rapid review (PROSPERO: CRD42023445492) and a Delphi consensus process using the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy V1. Key components include personalized feedback, normative comparisons, reflective prompts, and actionable behaviour change strategies. For patients scoring above a clinical threshold, additional messaging encourages caution regarding abrupt cessation and suggests consulting a healthcare provider. Our primary outcome is acceptance of the new online resource.

NCT Number	NCT07228923
Lead Sponsor	Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Conditions	Alcohol Misuse
Enrollment	77 participants
Start Date	2025-11-20
Primary Completion	2026-05-22 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-05-22 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-11