Alcohol Use DisorderNCT07501130
Feasibility of Telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Hong Kong Chinese Young Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot Study
A study testing ACT and Social support in people with Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol Abstinence, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
Trial summary
Objective: The proposed study aims to develop a protocol of telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and examine the feasibility of implementing such intervention among the Hong Kong Chinese young adults with AUD. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Abstinence
- What is being tested?
- ACT and Social support
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteHong Kong
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2023to 1 Apr 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- (1) aged 18 to 25 years,
- (2) able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese
- (3) drinking at hazardous levels as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; score of ≥8)
Who cannot join
- (1) those receiving other behavioural therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- (2) having a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Objective: The proposed study aims to develop a protocol of telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and examine the feasibility of implementing such intervention among the Hong Kong Chinese young adults with AUD.
Study design: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out. A convenience sample of 60 young adults with AUD will be recruited from the community. Subjects who are randomized into the experimental group which will receive a total of 6 weekly telephone-based ACT provided by an experienced health counsellor, or into the control group which will receive social support provided by a research assistant, that mimics the time and attention of the intervention. Feasibility measures will be collected at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups. Also, all subjects will be asked to complete a structured questionnaire to assess their alcohol use behaviours and psychological flexibility at the same time points.
Read more
Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes are feasibility measures by descriptive statistics. The secondary outcome is the preliminary effectiveness of telephone-based ACT in alcohol abstinence at 6 months
Data analysis: Multiple logistic regression will be used for analysis. Intention-to-treat analysis will be applied. Multiple imputations will be used to handle the missing data.
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Abstinence
- Being tested
- ACT, Social support
- Keywords
- young adults, accepectance and commitment therapy, telephone-based, alcohol use disorder, alcohol abstinence
- Medical subject headings
- Alcoholism, Alcohol Abstinence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ACTBehavioural
Participants in the experimental group will receive a total of 6 weekly telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) sessions.
Social supportBehavioural
Participants in the control group will receive telephone-based social support weekly for 6 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Experimental | Telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for young adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Receives: Behavioral: ACT |
| Control | Placebo comparator | Telephone-based social support Receives: Behavioral: Social support |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Screening rate
It will calculate the number of young adults screened by the research assistant divided by the number of young adults available for screening during the recruitment period.
Measured: Baseline
Eligibility rate
It will be calculated as the number of eligible young adults divided by the number of screened young adults.
Measured: Baseline
Consent rate
It will be calculated as the number of eligible young adults who join the study divided by the number of eligible young adults.
Measured: Baseline
Randomization rate
It will be calculated as the number of young adults who are randomized into the experimental and control groups, divided by the number of eligible young adults who consent to join the study.
Measured: Baseline
Attendance rate to the intervention
It will be calculated as the number of subjects in the experimental group who complete the intervention divided by the number of subjects randomized into the experimental group.
Measured: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
Adherence to intervention
It will be calculated as the number of subjects in the experimental group who practice the ACT skills gained in the intervention divided by the number of subjects randomized into the experimental group. It will be calculated at each follow-up.
Measured: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
Retention rate
It will be calculated the number of subjects who remain in the study, divided by the number of subjects who are randomized. It will be calculated by groups at each follow-up.
Measured: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
Completion rate
It is calculated as the number of subjects who answer the questionnaires divided by the number of questionnaires distributed.
Measured: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
Missing data
It is defined as the percentage of missing in the dataset. Unknown or blank values will be regarded as missing.
Measured: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
Adverse event
unfavorable and unintended events.
Measured: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
Secondary outcomes (2)
Weekly alcohol consumption
Drinks per week over the past 30 days. The Timeline Follow-Back questionnaire (TLFB) will be used to determine the number of alcohol-free days from drinking days, and the number of drinks consumed per day.
Measured: at 6-month (T2) follow-ups
Psychological flexibility
The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQII) will be used to measure psychological flexibility. This questionnaire contains 7 items, with each rated on a 7-point scale, from 1 (never true) to 7 (always true). Lower scores indicate greater levels of psychological flexibility.
Measured: at 6-month (T2) follow-ups
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2023
- Primary completion1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Alcohol Use DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dr Eva Ho, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07501130
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ACT for young AUD
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Mar 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 30 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Feasibility of Telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Hong Kong Chinese Young Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07501130
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ACT for young AUD
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Abstinence
- Keywords
- young adults, accepectance and commitment therapy, telephone-based, alcohol use disorder, alcohol abstinence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Mar 2026 (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.
Objective: The proposed study aims to develop a protocol of telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and examine the feasibility of implementing such intervention among the Hong Kong Chinese young adults with AUD.
Study design: A randomized controlled trial will be carried out. A convenience sample of 60 young adults with AUD will be recruited from the community. Subjects who are randomized into the experimental group which will receive a total of 6 weekly telephone-based ACT provided by an experienced health counsellor, or into the control group which will receive social support provided by a research assistant, that mimics the time and attention of the intervention. Feasibility measures will be collected at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups. Also, all subjects will be asked to complete a structured questionnaire to assess their alcohol use behaviours and psychological flexibility at the same time points.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes are feasibility measures by descriptive statistics. The secondary outcome is the preliminary effectiveness of telephone-based ACT in alcohol abstinence at 6 months
Data analysis: Multiple logistic regression will be used for analysis. Intention-to-treat analysis will be applied. Multiple imputations will be used to handle the missing data.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ACT | Experimental | Behavioral: ACTTelephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for young adults with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) |
| Control | Placebo comparator | Behavioral: Social supportTelephone-based social support |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- (1) aged 18 to 25 years,
- (2) able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese
- (3) drinking at hazardous levels as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; score of ≥8)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- (1) those receiving other behavioural therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- (2) having a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder
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 |
|---|---|---|
| ACTParticipants in the experimental group will receive a total of 6 weekly telephone-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) sessions. | Behavioural | ACT |
| Social supportParticipants in the control group will receive telephone-based social support weekly for 6 weeks. | Behavioural | Control |
Primary outcome
Screening rate
Time frame: Baseline
It will calculate the number of young adults screened by the research assistant divided by the number of young adults available for screening during the recruitment period.
Eligibility rate
Time frame: Baseline
It will be calculated as the number of eligible young adults divided by the number of screened young adults.
Consent rate
Time frame: Baseline
It will be calculated as the number of eligible young adults who join the study divided by the number of eligible young adults.
Randomization rate
Time frame: Baseline
It will be calculated as the number of young adults who are randomized into the experimental and control groups, divided by the number of eligible young adults who consent to join the study.
Attendance rate to the intervention
Time frame: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
It will be calculated as the number of subjects in the experimental group who complete the intervention divided by the number of subjects randomized into the experimental group.
Adherence to intervention
Time frame: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
It will be calculated as the number of subjects in the experimental group who practice the ACT skills gained in the intervention divided by the number of subjects randomized into the experimental group. It will be calculated at each follow-up.
Retention rate
Time frame: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
It will be calculated the number of subjects who remain in the study, divided by the number of subjects who are randomized. It will be calculated by groups at each follow-up.
Completion rate
Time frame: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
It is calculated as the number of subjects who answer the questionnaires divided by the number of questionnaires distributed.
Missing data
Time frame: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
It is defined as the percentage of missing in the dataset. Unknown or blank values will be regarded as missing.
Adverse event
Time frame: at baseline (T0), 3- (T1) and 6- (T2) and 12-month (T3) follow-ups
unfavorable and unintended events.
2 secondary outcomes
Weekly alcohol consumption
Time frame: at 6-month (T2) follow-ups
Psychological flexibility
Time frame: at 6-month (T2) follow-ups
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Mar 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 ACT and Social support in people with Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol Abstinence, run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.
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 3 inclusion and 2 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: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Mar 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 Hong Kong. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Screening rate (time frame: Baseline). 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 30 Mar 2026.