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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.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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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
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.

South Africa1 site
  • Human Sciences Research Council

    Pietermaritzburg

Other trials in South Africa

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.

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 groups in NCT05756790
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Enhanced Usual CareNo interventionCouples 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)ExperimentalCouples 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)ExperimentalIn 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.

  1. Enrollment Rate

    Number of eligible individuals who enroll in the study

    Measured: Baseline (Time 0)

  2. Retention Rate

    Number of enrolled individuals who completed the final follow-up survey (6-months post baseline)

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (10)
  1. 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

  2. Mid-point Survey Completion

    number of participants who complete the two-month survey

    Measured: 2 months

  3. Final Survey Completion

    number of couples who complete the six-month survey

    Measured: 6 months

  4. Number of Participants Who Attended All Intervention Sessions

    Number of participants who attend all three intervention sessions

    Measured: 2 months

  5. 70% Breathalyzer Completion

    number of participants in the MI Plus - Heavy Drinker arm who complete 70% of breathalyzer tests

    Measured: 2 months

  6. 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

  7. Exploratory: Alcohol Use- Number of Drinking Days

    Number of drinking days in the past 30 days (self-report)

    Measured: 6 months

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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.

  1. First posted6 Mar 2023
  2. Study start15 Mar 2023
  3. Primary completion20 Jun 2024
  4. Study completion30 Aug 2024

Resources

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)
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
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 30218319
  • Starks 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 30581887
  • Woolf-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 30407888
  • Aharonovich 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 29129192
  • Hahn 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 26381193
  • Lauckner 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 31771655
  • Conroy 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 41821038
  • Msimango 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

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.

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