Efficacy of a Mobile App-Based Coaching Program for Addiction Prevention among Apprentices: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Severin Haug (), Nikolaos Boumparis, Andreas Wenger, Michael Patrick Schaub and Raquel Paz Castro
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Severin Haug: Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Zurich University, Konradstrasse 32, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Nikolaos Boumparis: Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Zurich University, Konradstrasse 32, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Andreas Wenger: Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Zurich University, Konradstrasse 32, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Michael Patrick Schaub: Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction, Zurich University, Konradstrasse 32, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Raquel Paz Castro: Marie Meierhofer Children’s Institute, Pfingstweidstrasse 16, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Addictive behaviors such as tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, at-risk alcohol consumption, cannabis use or compulsive internet use are common among apprentices. ready4life is a mobile app-based preventive intervention program for apprentices that promotes life skills and reduces risky behavior. The present study tested the efficacy of ready4life for addiction prevention among apprentices in Switzerland within a controlled trial. Methods: Two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial including assessments at baseline and follow-up after 6 months. Participants of the intervention group received coaching by a conversational agent for 16 weeks. The main outcome measure was a composite score for addictive behaviors, which included (1) at-risk drinking, (2) tobacco/e-cigarette smoking, (3) cannabis use and (4) problematic internet use. Results: A total of 2275 students from 159 vocational school classes in Switzerland, were invited for study participation. Of these, 1351 (59.4%) students with a mean age of 17.3 years and a male proportion of 56.6% provided informed consent to participate. The follow up assessment at month 6 was completed by 962 (71.2%) study participants. The results concerning the primary outcome showed a stronger decrease of addictive behaviors between baseline and follow up in the intervention group compared to the control group. In particular, significant effects were observed for at-risk drinking and problematic Internet use, while no significant effects were observed for tobacco/e-cigarette smoking and cannabis use. Conclusions: The majority of apprentices invited for program participation within vocational schools participated in the ready4life program for addiction prevention. The mobile app-based coaching was effective in reducing risk behaviors such as at-risk drinking and problematic Internet use in a group of adolescents who have an especially high risk of engaging in addictive activities.

Keywords: substance use; addiction; prevention; apprentices; adolescents; mobile app (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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