A randomized clinical trial of mobile phone motivational interviewing for alcohol use problems in Kenya.

Aim: To test the effectiveness of a motivational interviewing (MI) intervention using the mobile phone among adults with alcohol use problems.

Design: A randomized clinical trial of mobile MI and standard in-person MI with 1- and 6-month follow-up, including a 1-month waitlist control followed by mobile MI.

Setting: A primary health center in rural Kenya.

Participants: Three hundred adults screening positive for alcohol use problems were randomized and received immediate mobile MI (n = 89), in-person MI (n = 65) or delayed mobile MI (n = 76) for waiting-list controls 1 month after no treatment, with 70 unable to be reached for intervention.

Intervention And Comparator: One MI session was provided either immediately by mobile phone, in-person at the health center or delayed by 1 month and then provided by mobile phone.

Measurements: Alcohol use problems were repeatedly assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) and the shorter AUDIT-C. The primary outcome was difference in alcohol score 1 month after no intervention for waiting-list control versus 1 month after MI for mobile MI. The secondary outcomes were difference in alcohol score for in-person MI versus mobile MI one and 6 months after MI.

Findings: For our primary outcome, average AUDIT-C scores were nearly three points higher (difference = 2.88, 95% confidence interval = 2.11, 3.66) for waiting-list controls after 1 month of no intervention versus mobile MI 1 month after intervention. Results for secondary outcomes supported the null hypothesis of no difference between in-person and mobile MI at 1 month (Bayes factor = 0.22), but were inconclusive at 6 months (Bayes factor = 0.41).

Conclusion: Mobile phone-based motivational interviewing may be an effective treatment for alcohol use problems among adults visiting primary care in Kenya. Providing mobile motivational interviewing may help clinicians in rural areas to reach patients needing treatment for alcohol use problems.