Combined motivational interviewing with real-time prompts to cut risky drinking in young adults at high HIV risk
Official title: Evaluation of a Combined Motivational Interviewing and Ecological Momentary Intervention to Reduce Risky Alcohol Use among Individuals Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11482052 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A 3-arm study tests whether remote motivational interviewing alone or with real-time GPS-triggered messages can help 18+-year-olds at high HIV risk drink less and reduce risky behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $719,349 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AA030487-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11482052 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are emerging adults (18+) at high HIV risk who report hazardous alcohol use and are willing to use mobile devices for daily surveys and breath tests.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not use smartphones or agree to daily surveys and breath tests may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you are an emerging adult at HIV risk and struggle with hazardous drinking, this study may help you reduce alcohol use and related risk behaviors. Participants start with a 4-week remote motivational interviewing program via cell phones, then some receive an ecological momentary intervention that sends real-time messages when you enter locations deemed risky for drinking. Throughout the study you will log daily alcohol use and sexual behaviors, and provide breath samples twice daily to monitor drinking. The research will compare the motivational interviewing alone, the combined approach, and a control condition to see which helps most. Location-based prompts aim to support healthier choices during real-life situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could lead to fewer risky drinking episodes and lower HIV risk behaviors in young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows motivational interviewing can reduce drinking in various groups, and real-time prompts have shown promise in behavior change.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kershaw, Trace S — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Kershaw, Trace S
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.