Using a mobile app to help pregnant women reduce alcohol use

Scaling Up: A Multi-Site Trial of e-SBI for Alcohol Use in Pregnancy

Not applicable Interventional Michigan State University · NCT04332172

This study is testing a mobile app called MommyCheckup to see if it can help pregnant women cut down on alcohol use.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment384 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 35 Years
SexFemale
SponsorMichigan State University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Flint, Michigan)
Trial IDNCT04332172 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a technology-delivered brief intervention application called MommyCheckup for pregnant women who are at risk of alcohol use. The study will involve 384 participants aged 18-35 who score positively on a validated screening tool for alcohol use risk and are at 20 weeks gestation or less. Participants will receive general information, baseline brief interventions, and remote online booster sessions via their smartphones, along with tailored text messages. The trial will assess whether these interventions can help reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are pregnant women aged 18-35 who are at risk for alcohol use and own a smartphone.

Not a fit: Patients who are not planning to carry their pregnancy to term or who cannot communicate in English may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce alcohol use among pregnant women, thereby decreasing the risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in their children.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with technology-based interventions for alcohol use, suggesting that this approach may be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-35 years
* Pregnant
* Self-report of alcohol risk (those who score positive on the T-ACE screen (Sokol, Martier, \& Ager, 1989), and also report either drinking weekly or more in the past month, or having 4 or more drinks at a time at least monthly in the 12 months before becoming pregnant
* 20 weeks or less gestation
* Planning to give birth in either Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Michigan
* Owning a mobile device that they are willing to use to receive study-related text reminders and to complete online study activities including assessments/boosters
* Completion of baseline assessment (enrollment criterion)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not planning to carry the baby to term
* Unable to communicate in English

Where this trial is running

Flint, Michigan

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisordersFetal Alcohol SyndromeFetal Alcohol Effect
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.