HIV/AIDSNCT05756790
Couple-Based Motivational Interviewing With Mobile Breathalyzers to Reduce Alcohol Use in South Africa
A study testing Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Interviewing plus Breathalyzer in people with HIV/AIDS and Alcohol Abuse, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in South Africa.
Trial summary
This project aims to develop and pilot test an intervention using couple-based motivational interviewing (MI) and mobile breathalyzers to reduce heavy alcohol use with couples living with HIV in South Africa. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 49 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- HIV/AIDS, Alcohol Abuse
- What is being tested?
- Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Interviewing plus Breathalyzer
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 186 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSouth Africa
- Study dates
- 15 Mar 2023to 30 Aug 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 49 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- in a primary relationship for at least 6 months
- aged 18-49
- have at least one partner (the "index patient") with a positive AUDIT-C screen score
- has been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 6 months
- has disclosed HIV status to their partner
Who cannot join
- Report severe intimate partner violence in the past 3 months and/or fear that their safety would be at risk (reported during screening)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This project aims to develop and pilot test an intervention using couple-based motivational interviewing (MI) and mobile breathalyzers to reduce heavy alcohol use with couples living with HIV in South Africa.
Read the detailed description
This project aims to develop and test an alcohol intervention using couple-based motivational interviewing (MI) and mobile breathalyzers to build dyadic support around drinking in HIV-affected couples in South Africa. Specifically, the study aims to: 1) To develop a couple-based MI intervention with mobile breathalyzer technology to deliver real-time feedback on BAC levels. We will target heavy alcohol users with HIV and enroll their primary partner; 2) to develop and pilot test the study procedures for a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the couple-based intervention; and 3) to determine the feasibility and acceptability (F\&A) of couple-based MI as a standalone intervention and when combined with mobile breathalyzers to provide real-time feedback and support to couples. We will also conduct qualitative interviews with a subset of 15 couples to contextualize F\&A data and refine our procedures. Our goal is to demonstrate a proof-of-concept for the proposed intervention, which if shown to be feasible and acceptable, may provide a scalable intervention to reduce heavy alcohol consumption and improve HIV treatment outcomes for couples in South Africa.
- Conditions
- HIV/AIDS, Alcohol Abuse
- Being tested
- Motivational Interviewing, Motivational Interviewing plus Breathalyzer
- Medical subject headings
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Alcoholism
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Motivational InterviewingBehavioural
Counseling
Motivational Interviewing plus BreathalyzerBehavioural
Counseling plus mobile breathalyzer/ app
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Usual Care | No intervention | Couples in this condition will receive the standard of care for alcohol use in addition to a brief alcohol counseling session modeled after WHO guidelines and Dr. Conroy's intervention in Malawi, which uses participants' baseline AUDIT scores for messaging around alcohol reduction and lasts 5-10 minutes. |
| Motivational Interviewing (MI) | Experimental | Couples will have three MI sessions over a 60-day period. These sessions will focus on communication between the couple, alcohol consumption patterns, and setting goals for alcohol-use reduction. Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing |
| Motivational Interviewing Plus Breathalyzer (MI Plus) | Experimental | In addition to three MI sessions, drinkers in this condition will be prompted via SMS message twice per day to use a mobile app and a breathalyzer to test their blood alcohol levels (BAC). Both the drinker and their partner will receive real-time feedback about alcohol use. Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing; Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing plus Breathalyzer |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Enrollment Rate
Number of eligible individuals who enroll in the study
Measured: Baseline (Time 0)
Retention Rate
Number of enrolled individuals who completed the final follow-up survey (6-months post baseline)
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (10)
Satisfaction With Intervention
number of participants who report being "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the intervention at the two-month follow-up
Measured: 2 months
Mid-point Survey Completion
number of participants who complete the two-month survey
Measured: 2 months
Final Survey Completion
number of couples who complete the six-month survey
Measured: 6 months
Number of Participants Who Attended All Intervention Sessions
Number of participants who attend all three intervention sessions
Measured: 2 months
70% Breathalyzer Completion
number of participants in the MI Plus - Heavy Drinker arm who complete 70% of breathalyzer tests
Measured: 2 months
Exploratory: ART Adherence
Percentage of pills taken by HIV-infected participants in the past 30 days, using the bean count method (self-report) adapted from VAS
Measured: 6 months
Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Number of Drinking Days
Number of drinking days in the past 30 days (self-report)
Measured: 6 months
Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Score on AUDIT at 2 Months
Mean score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test- AUDIT prior 3 months. The AUDIT is a 10-item scale that assesses drinking behavior with a range of 0-40 (higher scores indicate higher alcohol use). A score of 8 or more may indicate hazardous or harmful drinking in both men and women.
Measured: 2 months
Exploratory: HIV Viral Load
Number of HIV-infected index patients who are virally suppressed by local lab normal ranges, as measured by dried blood spots (DBS)
Measured: 2 months
Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Score on AUDIT at 6 Months
Mean score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test- AUDIT prior 3 months. The AUDIT is a 10-item scale that assesses drinking behavior with a range of 0-40 (higher scores indicate higher alcohol use). A score of 8 or more may indicate hazardous or harmful drinking in both men and women.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Mar 2023
- Study start15 Mar 2023
- Primary completion20 Jun 2024
- Study completion30 Aug 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HIV/AIDSStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, San FranciscoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Couples will be randomized 1:1
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 186 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San Francisco
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), The City College of New York, Human Sciences Research Council
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Amy Conroy, Ph.D., Principal investigator, University of California, San Francisco
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05756790
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P0551145
- Other IDs
- R34AA029649
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 21 Feb 2023
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: There is a plan in place to share data with the NIAAA Data Archive.
Publications
Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Ruark A. Couple Interdependence Impacts Alcohol Use and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi. AIDS Behav. 2019 Jan;23(1):201-210. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2275-2.
PubMed 30218319Starks TJ, Millar BM, Doyle KM, Bertone P, Ohadi J, Parsons JT. Motivational interviewing with couples: A theoretical framework for clinical practice illustrated in substance use and HIV prevention intervention with gay male couples. Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers. 2018 Dec;5(4):490-502. doi: 10.1037/sgd0000297. Epub 2018 Jun 25.
PubMed 30581887Woolf-King SE, Conroy AA, Fritz K, Johnson MO, Hosegood V, van Rooyen H, Darbes L, McGrath N. Alcohol use and relationship quality among South African couples. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(4):651-660. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1531428. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
PubMed 30407888Aharonovich E, Stohl M, Cannizzaro D, Hasin D. HealthCall delivered via smartphone to reduce co-occurring drug and alcohol use in HIV-infected adults: A randomized pilot trial. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2017 Dec;83:15-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2017.09.013. Epub 2017 Sep 29.
PubMed 29129192Hahn JA, Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Muyindike WR, Kekiibina A, Carrico AW, Woolf-King S, Shiboski S. Declining and rebounding unhealthy alcohol consumption during the first year of HIV care in rural Uganda, using phosphatidylethanol to augment self-report. Addiction. 2016 Feb;111(2):272-9. doi: 10.1111/add.13173. Epub 2015 Nov 5.
PubMed 26381193Lauckner C, Taylor E, Patel D, Whitmire A. The feasibility of using smartphones and mobile breathalyzers to monitor alcohol consumption among people living with HIV/AIDS. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2019 Nov 26;14(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s13722-019-0174-0.
PubMed 31771655Conroy AA, Butterfield RM, Chibi B, Msimango L, Starks TJ. Trial experiences with dyadic breathalyzer technology for alcohol monitoring and feedback among couples living with HIV in South Africa. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2026 Mar 12;21(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13722-026-00659-1.
PubMed 41821038Msimango L, Butterfield R, Starks TJ, van Heerden A, Neilands TB, Hahn JA, Chibi B, Humphries H, Conroy AA. Couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalysers to reduce alcohol use in South Africa: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Masibambisane. BMJ Open. 2024 Jan 30;14(1):e083390. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083390.
PubMed 38296300
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Couple-Based Motivational Interviewing With Mobile Breathalyzers to Reduce Alcohol Use in South Africa
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05756790
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- P0551145
- Conditions
- HIV/AIDS, Alcohol Abuse
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 186 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San FranciscoUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), The City College of New York, Human Sciences Research Council
- Study start
- 15 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 20 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Aug 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Mar 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 7 Aug 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This project aims to develop and pilot test an intervention using couple-based motivational interviewing (MI) and mobile breathalyzers to reduce heavy alcohol use with couples living with HIV in South Africa.
Detailed description
This project aims to develop and test an alcohol intervention using couple-based motivational interviewing (MI) and mobile breathalyzers to build dyadic support around drinking in HIV-affected couples in South Africa. Specifically, the study aims to: 1) To develop a couple-based MI intervention with mobile breathalyzer technology to deliver real-time feedback on BAC levels. We will target heavy alcohol users with HIV and enroll their primary partner; 2) to develop and pilot test the study procedures for a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the couple-based intervention; and 3) to determine the feasibility and acceptability (F\&A) of couple-based MI as a standalone intervention and when combined with mobile breathalyzers to provide real-time feedback and support to couples. We will also conduct qualitative interviews with a subset of 15 couples to contextualize F\&A data and refine our procedures. Our goal is to demonstrate a proof-of-concept for the proposed intervention, which if shown to be feasible and acceptable, may provide a scalable intervention to reduce heavy alcohol consumption and improve HIV treatment outcomes for couples in South Africa.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Couples will be randomized 1:1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Usual Care | No intervention | –Couples in this condition will receive the standard of care for alcohol use in addition to a brief alcohol counseling session modeled after WHO guidelines and Dr. Conroy's intervention in Malawi, which uses participants' baseline AUDIT scores for messaging around alcohol reduction and lasts 5-10 minutes. |
| Motivational Interviewing (MI) | Experimental | Behavioral: Motivational InterviewingCouples will have three MI sessions over a 60-day period. These sessions will focus on communication between the couple, alcohol consumption patterns, and setting goals for alcohol-use reduction. |
| Motivational Interviewing Plus Breathalyzer (MI Plus) | Experimental | Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing, Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing plus BreathalyzerIn addition to three MI sessions, drinkers in this condition will be prompted via SMS message twice per day to use a mobile app and a breathalyzer to test their blood alcohol levels (BAC). Both the drinker and their partner will receive real-time feedback about alcohol use. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 49 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- in a primary relationship for at least 6 months
- aged 18-49
- have at least one partner (the "index patient") with a positive AUDIT-C screen score
- has been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 6 months
- has disclosed HIV status to their partner
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Report severe intimate partner violence in the past 3 months and/or fear that their safety would be at risk (reported during screening)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational InterviewingCounseling | Behavioural | Motivational Interviewing (MI), Motivational Interviewing Plus Breathalyzer (MI Plus) |
| Motivational Interviewing plus BreathalyzerCounseling plus mobile breathalyzer/ app | Behavioural | Motivational Interviewing Plus Breathalyzer (MI Plus) |
Primary outcome
Enrollment Rate
Time frame: Baseline (Time 0)
Number of eligible individuals who enroll in the study
Retention Rate
Time frame: 6 months
Number of enrolled individuals who completed the final follow-up survey (6-months post baseline)
10 secondary outcomes
Satisfaction With Intervention
Time frame: 2 months
Mid-point Survey Completion
Time frame: 2 months
Final Survey Completion
Time frame: 6 months
Number of Participants Who Attended All Intervention Sessions
Time frame: 2 months
70% Breathalyzer Completion
Time frame: 2 months
Exploratory: ART Adherence
Time frame: 6 months
Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Number of Drinking Days
Time frame: 6 months
Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Score on AUDIT at 2 Months
Time frame: 2 months
Exploratory: HIV Viral Load
Time frame: 2 months
Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Score on AUDIT at 6 Months
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Background: PubMed 30218319Conroy AA, McKenna SA, Ruark A. Couple Interdependence Impacts Alcohol Use and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Malawi. AIDS Behav. 2019 Jan;23(1):201-210. doi: 10.1007/s10461-018-2275-2.
- Background: PubMed 30581887Starks TJ, Millar BM, Doyle KM, Bertone P, Ohadi J, Parsons JT. Motivational interviewing with couples: A theoretical framework for clinical practice illustrated in substance use and HIV prevention intervention with gay male couples. Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers. 2018 Dec;5(4):490-502. doi: 10.1037/sgd0000297. Epub 2018 Jun 25.
- Background: PubMed 30407888Woolf-King SE, Conroy AA, Fritz K, Johnson MO, Hosegood V, van Rooyen H, Darbes L, McGrath N. Alcohol use and relationship quality among South African couples. Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(4):651-660. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1531428. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
- Background: PubMed 29129192Aharonovich E, Stohl M, Cannizzaro D, Hasin D. HealthCall delivered via smartphone to reduce co-occurring drug and alcohol use in HIV-infected adults: A randomized pilot trial. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2017 Dec;83:15-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2017.09.013. Epub 2017 Sep 29.
- Background: PubMed 26381193Hahn JA, Emenyonu NI, Fatch R, Muyindike WR, Kekiibina A, Carrico AW, Woolf-King S, Shiboski S. Declining and rebounding unhealthy alcohol consumption during the first year of HIV care in rural Uganda, using phosphatidylethanol to augment self-report. Addiction. 2016 Feb;111(2):272-9. doi: 10.1111/add.13173. Epub 2015 Nov 5.
- Background: PubMed 31771655Lauckner C, Taylor E, Patel D, Whitmire A. The feasibility of using smartphones and mobile breathalyzers to monitor alcohol consumption among people living with HIV/AIDS. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2019 Nov 26;14(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s13722-019-0174-0.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41821038Conroy AA, Butterfield RM, Chibi B, Msimango L, Starks TJ. Trial experiences with dyadic breathalyzer technology for alcohol monitoring and feedback among couples living with HIV in South Africa. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2026 Mar 12;21(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13722-026-00659-1.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38296300Msimango L, Butterfield R, Starks TJ, van Heerden A, Neilands TB, Hahn JA, Chibi B, Humphries H, Conroy AA. Couples motivational interviewing with mobile breathalysers to reduce alcohol use in South Africa: a pilot randomised controlled trial of Masibambisane. BMJ Open. 2024 Jan 30;14(1):e083390. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083390.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. There is a plan in place to share data with the NIAAA Data Archive.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Amy Conroy, Ph.D. principal investigator
University of California, San Francisco
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Motivational Interviewing and Motivational Interviewing plus Breathalyzer in people with HIV/AIDS and Alcohol Abuse, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in South Africa.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in South Africa. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Enrollment Rate (time frame: Baseline (Time 0)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05756790, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2025.