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Table 1 HealthCall-Smartphone script for daily self-monitoring calls

From: HealthCall for the smartphone: technology enhancement of brief intervention in HIV alcohol dependent patients

Content of statement or question

Purpose

1. Friendly welcome greeting that varies by daya

Reinforce HealthCall-S use; add variety to daily script

2. Request to enter password

Ensure privacy

3. Statement that questions are about yesterday (morning, afternoon, evening or during the night)

Standardize timeframe regardless of when HealthCall-S is used

4. Number of drinks of beer, wine, liquora,b?

Self-monitor drinking to increase self-awareness; provide data for 30- and 60-day personalized feedback

5. How much wanted to drink?

Self-monitor craving to increase self-awareness

6. Optional view of graph showing number of drinks daily over prior 7 daysa,b

Self-monitor progress to increase self-awareness (optional because not all patients wish to see the graph every day)

7. Thought about pros and cons of drinkingb? (yes/no)

Remind patient of MI session to maintain or increase motivation to change

8. Thought about drinking reduction goalb? (yes/no)

Remind patient of MI goal to maintain or increase motivation to change

9. How important was drinking reduction?

 

10. How committed to drinking reduction?

 

11. IF DRANK: Reasons for drinkinga (yes/no to nine reasons, e.g., around others who drank; to improve mood; habit)?

Identify drinking motives and triggers (internal and social-contextual) to increase self-awareness, provide data for 30- and 60-day personalized feedback

12. IF DID NOT DRINK: Reasons for not drinkinga (yes/no to nine reasons, e.g., my health; made commitment not to; no money for alcohol; feel good when do something positive for self)?

Maintain or increase self-efficacy and motivation to change

13. Statement praising abstinence or meeting drinking goal (4 rotated, different statements), or continuing to call even if goals weren’t meta

Increase motivation and self-efficacy; reinforce continued HealthCall-S use; add variety to daily script

14. Statement of one of 30 daily “tips” in random order (suggestions on how to cut down drinking or maintain abstinence)a

Suggest skills to patients for cutting down or staying abstinent based NIAAA evidence-based materials; also to add variety to daily script

15. Drug use?

Identify potential substitute substance use pattern

16. If on ART, were all HIV meds taken?

Self-monitoring of ART; identify if alcohol and ART adherence are linked

17. If had sex, was it protectedb?

Self-monitoring of sexual risk behaviors

18. Felt well physically? Stressed? Angry? sad/depressed? how was day overall? (5 yes/no questions)b

Increase self-awareness; identify drinking triggers and patterns; show concern for the whole person

19. If reported at-risk drinking, counselor call offered via one-touch link to counselor’s phone/voicemaila

Provide counselor assistance if wished

20. Outgoing tailored goodbye (15 versions)

Reinforce HealthCall-S use based on patients’ input and date/day of the week/weekend; add variety.

  1. aquestion or statement via video of the counselor (others heard and accompanied by text on screen).
  2. baccompanied by visual image (photo or drawing) on the screen.