Using text messaging to help reduce heavy drinking and HIV risk among young men
Official title: Applying Construal Level Theory to Develop and Test an Interactive Text Messaging Adjunct Intervention to Reduce Heavy Drinking and HIV Risk
Funded at Brown University · NIH-10934367 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly text messaging program to help young men who have sex with men cut down on heavy drinking and lower their chances of getting HIV, by encouraging them to think about their drinking habits and make healthier choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $150,470 |
| NIH project number | 5K99AA031443-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10934367 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adult men who engage in heavy drinking and are at risk for HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not identify as men who have sex with men or who do not engage in heavy drinking may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and test an interactive text messaging program designed to help young adult men who have sex with men (MSM) reduce heavy drinking and lower their risk of HIV. By utilizing construal level theory, the program will guide participants through a series of questions that encourage them to think about their drinking behavior both abstractly and concretely. The goal is to enhance motivation for change and improve the practical steps needed to achieve that change. Participants will receive tailored messages that address their specific behaviors and encourage healthier choices.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and effective tool for reducing heavy drinking and HIV risk in a vulnerable population.
How similar studies have gone: While construal level theory has been successfully applied in other areas like weight loss and smoking cessation, its application to alcohol consumption and HIV risk is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Brown University
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gebru, Nioud Mulugeta — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Gebru, Nioud Mulugeta
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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.