# Family-focused vs. Drinker-focused Smartphone Interventions to Reduce Drinking-related Consequences of COVID-19

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2021 · $1,128,033

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The combination of COVID-19 and alcohol/substance use disorders exacerbates a wide range of existing
problems, including the likelihood of contracting COVID and severity of consequences, pandemic-related
stresses that trigger alcohol and substance use, loss of jobs and healthcare access, increased interpersonal
violence, and overarching systemic inequities. Interventions are needed to address these serious problems,
which are likely to persist even after widespread availability of COVID vaccines.
In response to PAR 20-243, this R01 project is a Hybrid II RCT/implementation study modifying and testing two
of our alcohol smartphone interventions to address the fallout from COVID. We propose a 3-arm RCT
comparing a control vs. a drinker-focused intervention vs. a family-focused intervention. The drinker-focused
intervention (ACHESS-C) is an extension of our evidence-based Addiction–Comprehensive Health
Enhancement Support system (ACHESS), augmented with COVID resources. The family-focused intervention
(FamCHESS-C) combines ACHESS-C services with evidence-based Alcohol Behavioral Couple Therapy
services to help both drinker and partner with behavior change, relationship problems, and general well-being.
In the proposed 8-month trial plus 4-month follow-up, 198 dyads (drinker + family member) will be randomly
assigned to: 1) Smartphone control: both receive a smartphone with standard support and crisis numbers; 2)
ACHESS-C: drinker receives a phone with ACHESS-C, partner receives a phone with support and crisis
numbers; 3) Fam-CHESS-C: both receive phone with FamCHESS-C. The project has the following aims:
Aim 1: Complete refinements to the FamCHESS-C app.
Aim 2: Conduct a balanced RCT to test the following outcomes: Primary: 1) drinker % heavy drinking days, 2)
dyad quality of life. Secondary: 3) dyad relationship satisfaction, 4) dyad psychological/physical conflict, 5)
drinker no heavy drinking days, 6) drinker % days alcohol/drug use, 7) dyad COVID vaccination rates, 8)
drinker alcohol- and drug-related problems. Exploratory: 9) partner % days alcohol/drug use, 10) dyad crisis
healthcare use, 11) dyad technology satisfaction. We hypothesize that outcomes will be more favorable in
FamCHESS-C relative to ACHESS-C, and both will be more favorable relative to smartphone control.
Aim 3: Examine mediation effects of dyad's competence, relatedness, and motivation; drinker's interim change
in % days of alcohol and drug use, and extent of app use for comparisons of ACHESS-C and FamCHESS-C.
Examine moderation of effects of condition by drinker sex, severity of drinker’s baseline alcohol use, drinker
engagement in treatment for AUD/SUD, and dyad’s baseline relationship satisfaction.
Aim 4: Conduct a small-scale (20 dyads) formative evaluation using an implementation science model to
collect qualitative data on perceptions of difficulties and benefits of ACHESS-C and FamCHESS-C use.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10363458
- **Project number:** 1R01AA029804-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID H GUSTAFSON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,128,033
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-25 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10363458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10363458, Family-focused vs. Drinker-focused Smartphone Interventions to Reduce Drinking-related Consequences of COVID-19 (1R01AA029804-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10363458. Licensed CC0.

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