RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Adaptive Actions and Alcohol Use Outcomes During Internet-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

This study is about an online therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) designed to help people with alcohol misuse. It's offered through the Online Therapy Unit in Canada. Researchers want to understand if a person's helpful actions – like healthy thinking, taking part in meaningful activities, connecting with others, having good habits, and setting goals – increase during this online therapy. They will check if doing these helpful things more often goes hand-in-hand with drinking less alcohol. The study uses information already collected from people going through this online course to see how these changes are linked. It aims to see if changing daily actions can help people cut down on their drinking.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Regina

Enrolment target

165

Start

14 May 2025

Estimated completion

14 May 2026

Alcohol Misuse

What is this study about?

This study is all about an online programme called the Alcohol Change Course Enhanced (ACCE), which uses a type of talking therapy called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). CBT helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected, and how to change unhelpful patterns. This specific online course is designed for people who want to cut down on their alcohol use.

The main aim of the study is to see if, as people go through this online therapy, they start doing more 'adaptive actions'. These are helpful things like thinking positively, taking part in activities they enjoy, connecting with friends and family, building healthy routines, and setting goals. Researchers believe that engaging in these actions can really help with overall well-being. They want to find out if doing these helpful things more often is connected to people drinking less alcohol during the course.

The study will look at information already collected from people who have used this online course. They're trying to discover if there's a link between gradually reducing alcohol intake and gradually increasing these positive, helpful actions. Understanding this could help improve online support for alcohol problems in the future.

Key takeaways

This study looks at how online therapy helps people with alcohol problems.
It aims to see if doing helpful things more often goes hand-in-hand with drinking less.
The therapy is offered through the Online Therapy Unit in Canada.
It uses information from people already taking the online course.
The findings could help improve future online support for alcohol misuse.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to live in Canada and be at least 18 years old. You'll also need access to a computer or a device like a tablet, and a reliable internet connection, as the therapy is delivered online. Importantly, the study is for people who recognise they have a problem with alcohol.

There are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you have a very serious medical or mental health condition right now that needs immediate treatment, such as severe mental health problems requiring hospitalisation, serious thoughts of harming yourself, or a medical condition needing urgent surgery. You also can't be getting a lot of other alcohol treatment (more than twice a month) or be in another programme at the same clinic. All the materials and staff are in English, so you must be able to read and understand English well.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you live in Canada?
Do you have a problem with your alcohol use?
Do you have good access to the internet and a computer/device?
Can you read and understand English well?
Are you not currently receiving intense (more than twice a month) individual alcohol treatment?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is an 'observational study', which means you wouldn't be doing anything new or extra just for the study. If you were taking part in the Alcohol Change Course Enhanced online therapy through the Online Therapy Unit, the researchers would be looking at information already collected as part of your routine therapy. This involves data from your responses to questionnaires like the 'Things You Do Questionnaire' and information about your alcohol use, which are typically part of the online course. You would follow the online course as you normally would, and there aren't any special visits, medications, or follow-up appointments required specifically for the study. The total duration would be the length of your participation in the online therapy course.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no known risks involved in this study because it uses information already collected from people who have gone through the online therapy, rather than asking new things or changing your care. The potential benefit is that the findings could help improve online therapy for alcohol problems, making it more effective for future patients. You always have the right to withdraw your consent for your data to be used in the study, and this would not affect your ongoing therapy or care.

Locations (1)

Online Therapy Unit
Verified postcode
Regina, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)?

CBT is a common type of talking therapy that helps you manage your problems by changing how you think and behave. It focuses on how your thoughts, feelings, and actions affect each other.

What does 'alcohol misuse' mean?

Alcohol misuse means drinking alcohol in a way that is harmful to you or puts you at risk, whether that's affecting your health, relationships, or work.

What are 'adaptive actions'?

Adaptive actions are helpful daily activities and ways of thinking that can improve your well-being. Examples include healthy thinking, enjoying meaningful activities, connecting with others, having good habits, and setting goals.

Will my privacy be protected in this study?

Yes, the study uses data collected as part of routine care. Researchers will make sure your personal information is kept private and used responsibly, usually by removing anything that could identify you.

Is this study offering a new treatment?

No, this study isn't offering a new treatment. It's observing how an existing online therapy (the Alcohol Change Course Enhanced) works and if certain helpful actions change during the therapy. It's not a new intervention itself.

How to find out more

Marcie Nugent, MSW

marcie.nugent@uregina.ca 306-337-3331 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.