Underage DrinkingNCT06861660
Digitally Prompted Parenting: A Text Message Parent-Based Alcohol Intervention for Incoming College Students
A study testing Digitally Prompted Parenting in people with Underage Drinking, run by Loyola Marymount University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate both the feasibility and efficacy of Digitally Prompted Parenting (DPP), a text-message based parent intervention (tm-PBI) designed to prevent and reduce alcohol use among first-year college students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 17 to 20 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Underage Drinking
- What is being tested?
- Digitally Prompted Parenting
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 276 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 27 Jun 2025to 16 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 17 to 20 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Student is 17-20 years of age
- Student is an LMU incoming first-year college student
- Student has access to a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
- Student's parent or legal guardian has an email address on file at LMU
- Student's parent or legal guardian has a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
- Student's parent or legal guardian received an invitation from the research team to participate
Show all 9Show fewer
- Student's parent or legal guardian signed up to access the assigned intervention
- Student's parent or legal guardian is a resident of the United States
- Informed consent (or assent, as applicable) is provided
Who cannot join
- Student is not 17-20 years of age
- Student is not an LMU incoming first-year college student
- Student does not have access to a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
- Student's parent or legal guardian does not have an email address on file at LMU
- Student's parent or legal guardian does not have a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
- Student's parent or legal guardian did not receive an invitation from the research team to participate
Show all 9Show fewer
- Student's parent or legal guardian did not sign up to access the assigned intervention
- Student's parent or legal guardian is not a resident of the United States
- Informed consent (or assent, as applicable) is not provided
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate both the feasibility and efficacy of Digitally Prompted Parenting (DPP), a text-message based parent intervention (tm-PBI) designed to prevent and reduce alcohol use among first-year college students. In this study, parents of incoming first-year students will receive risk-reducing text messages during the first 10 weeks of the Fall semester, which they can forward to their students. The trial uses a longitudinal design to compare drinking outcomes between students whose parents receive the DPP messages and those whose parents receive an established alcohol PBI (the active control condition). The investigators hypothesize that students in the DPP group will report lower levels of alcohol use and fewer alcohol-related consequences after the intervention compared to those in the active control group.
- Conditions
- Underage Drinking
- Being tested
- Digitally Prompted Parenting, Active Control
- Medical subject headings
- Underage Drinking
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Digitally Prompted ParentingBehavioural
Parents will receive an email invitation to sign up for Digitally Prompted Parenting, a text message-delivered PBI. Parents set up an account and input information about themselves and their student, which will customize the text messages they receive. Parents will receive at least two text prompts per week for the first 10 weeks of their student's first semester in college. These texts will (1) prompt parents to call their student to discuss the past week and week ahead, and (2) prompt parents to send an alcohol-specific risk reducing text to their student.
Active ControlBehavioural
Parents will receive an email that explains the Parent Handbook intervention and includes a link to a website where the Handbook is embedded. They will also receive three booster emails summarizing the key points of the intervention. Parents can review both the Parent Handbook and the booster emails at their own pace.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Digitally Prompted Parenting | Experimental | Parents of participating first-year college students in this intervention arm will receive a series of prewritten text messages during the first 10 weeks of college. Parents can personalize these messages before sending them directly to their student, who is the study participant, with the goal of reducing alcohol-related risks. Receives: Behavioral: Digitally Prompted Parenting |
| Active Control | Active comparator | Parents of participating first-year college students in this arm of the study will receive access to the Parent Handbook during the summer before matriculation and three booster emails that summarize its key points after matriculation. Receives: Behavioral: Active Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Daily Drinking between Baseline and 3 Months
Self-reported number of drinks consumed during an average week in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 3 months
Change in Daily Drinking between Baseline and 6 Months
Self-reported number of drinks consumed during an average week in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 6 months
Change in Peak Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 3 Months
Self-reported max number of drinks consumed on a single occasion in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 3 months
Change in Peak Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 6 Months
Self-reported max number of drinks consumed on a single occasion in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 6 months
Change in Heavy Episodic Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 3 Months
Self-reported number of times 4/5 drinks (female/male) were consumed in a 2-hour period in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 3 months
Change in Heavy Episodic Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 6 Months
Self-reported number of times 4/5 drinks (female/male) were consumed in a 2-hour period in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 6 months
Change in Frequency of Intoxication Events between Baseline and 3 Months
Self-reported number of times individuals reported drinking to intoxication in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 3 months
Change in Frequency of Intoxication Events between Baseline and 6 Months
Self-reported number of times individuals reported drinking to intoxication in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 6 months
Change in Number of Alcohol-Related Consequences between Baseline and 3 Month
Self-reported number of alcohol-related consequences in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 3 months
Change in Number of Alcohol-Related Consequences between Baseline and 6 Month
Self-reported number of alcohol-related consequences in the past 30 days.
Measured: baseline, 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 2025
- Study start27 Jun 2025
- Primary completion16 Mar 2026
- Study completion16 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Underage DrinkingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 276 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Loyola Marymount University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr. Joseph LaBrie, Loyola Marymount University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06861660
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1R34AA031358-01A1
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 1 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 16 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Digitally Prompted Parenting: A Text Message Parent-Based Alcohol Intervention for Incoming College Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06861660
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1R34AA031358-01A1
- Conditions
- Underage Drinking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 276 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Loyola Marymount UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate both the feasibility and efficacy of Digitally Prompted Parenting (DPP), a text-message based parent intervention (tm-PBI) designed to prevent and reduce alcohol use among first-year college students. In this study, parents of incoming first-year students will receive risk-reducing text messages during the first 10 weeks of the Fall semester, which they can forward to their students. The trial uses a longitudinal design to compare drinking outcomes between students whose parents receive the DPP messages and those whose parents receive an established alcohol PBI (the active control condition). The investigators hypothesize that students in the DPP group will report lower levels of alcohol use and fewer alcohol-related consequences after the intervention compared to those in the active control group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Digitally Prompted Parenting | Experimental | Behavioral: Digitally Prompted ParentingParents of participating first-year college students in this intervention arm will receive a series of prewritten text messages during the first 10 weeks of college. Parents can personalize these messages before sending them directly to their student, who is the study participant, with the goal of reducing alcohol-related risks. |
| Active Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: Active ControlParents of participating first-year college students in this arm of the study will receive access to the Parent Handbook during the summer before matriculation and three booster emails that summarize its key points after matriculation. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 17 to 20 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Student is 17-20 years of age
- Student is an LMU incoming first-year college student
- Student has access to a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
- Student's parent or legal guardian has an email address on file at LMU
- Student's parent or legal guardian has a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Student is not 17-20 years of age
- Student is not an LMU incoming first-year college student
- Student does not have access to a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
- Student's parent or legal guardian does not have an email address on file at LMU
- Student's parent or legal guardian does not have a cellular device capable of receiving text messages
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Digitally Prompted ParentingParents will receive an email invitation to sign up for Digitally Prompted Parenting, a text message-delivered PBI. Parents set up an account and input information about themselves and their student, which will customize the text messages they receive. Parents will receive at least two text prompts per week for the first 10 weeks of their student's first semester in college. These texts will (1) prompt parents to call their student to discuss the past week and week ahead, and (2) prompt parents to send an alcohol-specific risk reducing text to their student. | Behavioural | Digitally Prompted Parenting |
| Active ControlParents will receive an email that explains the Parent Handbook intervention and includes a link to a website where the Handbook is embedded. They will also receive three booster emails summarizing the key points of the intervention. Parents can review both the Parent Handbook and the booster emails at their own pace. | Behavioural | Active Control |
Primary outcome
Change in Daily Drinking between Baseline and 3 Months
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Self-reported number of drinks consumed during an average week in the past 30 days.
Change in Daily Drinking between Baseline and 6 Months
Time frame: baseline, 6 months
Self-reported number of drinks consumed during an average week in the past 30 days.
Change in Peak Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 3 Months
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Self-reported max number of drinks consumed on a single occasion in the past 30 days.
Change in Peak Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 6 Months
Time frame: baseline, 6 months
Self-reported max number of drinks consumed on a single occasion in the past 30 days.
Change in Heavy Episodic Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 3 Months
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Self-reported number of times 4/5 drinks (female/male) were consumed in a 2-hour period in the past 30 days.
Change in Heavy Episodic Drinking Occasion between Baseline and 6 Months
Time frame: baseline, 6 months
Self-reported number of times 4/5 drinks (female/male) were consumed in a 2-hour period in the past 30 days.
Change in Frequency of Intoxication Events between Baseline and 3 Months
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Self-reported number of times individuals reported drinking to intoxication in the past 30 days.
Change in Frequency of Intoxication Events between Baseline and 6 Months
Time frame: baseline, 6 months
Self-reported number of times individuals reported drinking to intoxication in the past 30 days.
Change in Number of Alcohol-Related Consequences between Baseline and 3 Month
Time frame: baseline, 3 months
Self-reported number of alcohol-related consequences in the past 30 days.
Change in Number of Alcohol-Related Consequences between Baseline and 6 Month
Time frame: baseline, 6 months
Self-reported number of alcohol-related consequences in the past 30 days.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 Apr 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Digitally Prompted Parenting in people with Underage Drinking, run by Loyola Marymount University at 1 site in United States.
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 9 inclusion and 9 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 16 Apr 2026. 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 United States. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change in Daily Drinking between Baseline and 3 Months (time frame: baseline, 3 months). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 16 Apr 2026.