Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Subst Use Misuse. 2024;59(2):291-299. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2269578. Epub 2023 Dec 28.
Alcohol dependence is common, yet highly undertreated. Smartphone applications (apps) have potential to enhance treatment accessibility and effectiveness, however evidence is limited, especially studies focussing on user experiences. The aim was to describe patient perceptions on the usability and acceptability of self-monitoring apps provided as treatment complement for alcohol dependence.
Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted through video or phone calls with 21 participants, recruited from a randomized controlled trial at a dependency clinic in Stockholm. The participants had used two specific apps for self-monitoring consumption ("Glasklart" and "iBAC") during 12 wk prior to the interviews. Data was analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis.
Two domains were identified: 1) Smartphone applications as facilitators to treatment, and 2) Barriers to smartphone application use. Using apps within the treatment context was believed to increase the accuracy of the reported consumption. Participants became more aware of their alcohol problem and described the apps as reinforcers that could increase both the motivation to change and the focus on the problem and commitment to treatment. The apps were further described as helpful to control alcohol consumption. However, app usage was constrained by technical problems, unfit app-specific features and procedures, and alcohol-related shame and stigma.
Self-monitoring alcohol apps have several beneficial features that can help assess, track, and control alcohol consumption, and improve communication with clinicians. The results indicate they can be useful complements to treatment for patients with alcohol dependence, but their use can be limited by different, foremost technical, issues.
酒精依赖很常见，但治疗不足。智能手机应用程序（apps）有可能提高治疗的可及性和效果，但证据有限，特别是关注用户体验的研究。目的是描述患者对作为酒精依赖治疗补充的自我监测应用程序的可用性和可接受性的看法。
通过视频或电话与 21 名参与者进行了个体半结构化访谈，这些参与者是从斯德哥尔摩一家依赖症诊所的一项随机对照试验中招募的。在访谈之前的 12 周内，参与者使用了两种特定的自我监测消费应用程序（“Glasklart”和“iBAC”）。使用定性内容分析对数据进行分析。
确定了两个领域：1）智能手机应用程序作为治疗的促进因素，2）智能手机应用程序使用的障碍。在治疗环境中使用应用程序被认为可以提高报告的消费的准确性。参与者对自己的酒精问题有了更多的认识，并描述了这些应用程序是增强剂，可以提高改变的动机和对问题的关注以及对治疗的承诺。这些应用程序还被描述为有助于控制饮酒。然而，应用程序的使用受到技术问题、不适合特定应用程序的功能和程序以及与酒精相关的羞耻感和污名的限制。
自我监测酒精应用程序具有一些有益的功能，可以帮助评估、跟踪和控制饮酒，并改善与临床医生的沟通。结果表明，它们可以作为酒精依赖患者治疗的有用补充，但由于各种技术问题，它们的使用可能会受到限制。
