A free smartphone app, Drink Much less, may help individuals who would profit most from decreasing their alcohol consumption to take action efficiently, in accordance with a big randomised managed trial led by UCL researchers.
The examine, revealed in eClinicalMedicine and funded by the Nationwide Institute for Well being and Care Analysis (NIHR), discovered that individuals randomly advisable to make use of the Drink Much less app lowered their ingesting by 39 models every week at six months – two extra models every week on common than a management group who have been referred to straightforward NHS recommendation.
The 5,602 individuals of the examine have been all growing or increased threat drinkers concerned with decreasing their alcohol consumption and have been randomly assigned to both be despatched a hyperlink to an NHS alcohol recommendation webpage or a hyperlink to obtain the Drink Much less app.
Lead writer Dr Melissa Oldham (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Well being Care) stated: “These outcomes present that the Drink Much less app will be helpful for individuals trying to scale back their alcohol consumption.
“Alcohol consumption can result in many well being circumstances equivalent to most cancers and heart problems. About 20% of the grownup inhabitants within the UK drink alcohol at ranges that enhance their threat of unwell well being and the Drink Much less app may assist these individuals to chop down.
“Decreasing consumption by an additional two models every week on common could appear small however is important each when it comes to stopping potential well being harms in addition to decreasing prices to the NHS.”
Senior writer and Chief Investigator Dr Claire Garnett (UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Well being Care and the College of Bristol), who led a crew in growing the app whereas at UCL, stated: “Many apps supply to assist individuals to chop down their ingesting however that is the primary randomised managed trial of an alcohol discount app for the final inhabitants within the UK.
“If individuals are going to make use of an app, it will be higher in the event that they tried one which had good proof behind it. An app that’s not efficient could make it much less seemingly for that particular person to attempt to scale back their ingesting in future.”
In an additional evaluation, the crew estimated that if the Drink Much less app have been rolled out broadly it will save the NHS tons of of hundreds of thousands of kilos over 20 years.
The Drink Much less app permits individuals to set objectives, report how a lot they drink and log their temper and sleep high quality after ingesting. It reveals progress in direction of objectives and might supply suggestions and assist with motion plans for conditions the place customers would often drink.
One other characteristic is that the app reveals the place within the UK inhabitants customers are when it comes to how a lot they drink every week – i.e., what proportion of the inhabitants drink kind of than they do. This generally is a shock as most individuals underestimate how a lot they drink in contrast with the final inhabitants, the researchers stated. Anybody can obtain the app from the UK Apple App Retailer and see how they examine.
Contributors have been recruited by way of adverts on NHS webpages and on radio and social media, in addition to by way of posters in GP surgical procedures. They have been eligible in the event that they have been over 18, needed to cut back their ingesting, and categorised as an growing or increased threat drinker based mostly on a questionnaire assessing how a lot they drank.
The app was much more useful for feminine individuals, who lowered their ingesting by a further 2.5 models every week in comparison with girls who have been referred to the NHS recommendation webpage.
Dr Oldham additionally stated: “Digital interventions have the potential to achieve a lot of individuals at comparatively low price. Nonetheless, not everybody has entry to digital units, so these interventions needs to be a part of a complete authorities technique to cut back alcohol consumption and alcohol harms”.
Dr Sadie Boniface, Head of Analysis on the Institute of Alcohol Research stated: “NICE already recommends digital interventions as an add-on to current companies, so having an app which we all know is efficient may be very welcome information. If the Drink Much less app will be scaled up and rolled out extra broadly, it holds promise for inhabitants well being.”
“Nonetheless, as is the case with plenty of digital well being apps, decision-makers needs to be conscious that these do not go well with everyone. Apps are one beneficial software within the field, however there isn’t a silver bullet for alcohol hurt. What we actually want is a nationwide technique that features apps alongside different interventions and insurance policies which we all know work, equivalent to making alcohol much less low-cost, not as available, much less closely marketed, and bettering entry to alcohol therapy and assist.”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, Chair of the Alcohol Well being Alliance, stated: “At a time when deaths from alcohol are at peak ranges, measures, just like the Drink Much less app, which might be confirmed to cut back alcohol consumption are a welcome improvement.
There are various instruments on the market that assist individuals to cut back their alcohol consumption, however few have the proof base to indicate that they actually work. It’s good to see that the app developed by UCL now has the info behind it to again it up and could possibly be used alongside, not rather than, inhabitants measures that handle the worth, availability and advertising of alcohol to cut back the hurt attributable to alcohol.”
Professor Brian Ferguson, Director of the NIHR Public Well being Analysis Programme, which funded the examine, stated: “These findings present that the Drink Much less app has the potential to assist individuals monitor and scale back the quantity of alcohol they devour. As well as, it highlights the significance of harnessing expertise to assist enhance public well being, though the app will must be tailored to increase its inhabitants protection.”
The Drink Much less app is at the moment out there on the Apple App Retailer however not but for Android units.