Utilizing Text Messaging to Improve Vehicle Safety Among At-Risk Young Adults

Overview

The "Safe Vehicle Engagement (SaVE)" trials are 3 parallel randomized clinical trials that aim to determine the impact of text messaging (SMS) vehicle safety interventions vs. weekly SMS vehicle safety self-monitoring alone on seat belt use, distracted driving and drink driving among young adults identified in the emergency department (ED) with risky vehicle behaviors.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: November 22, 2021

Detailed Description

The investigators propose to conduct 3 related randomized, controlled, parallel group, assessor-blind, superiority trials of 6-week text message interventions vs. SMS vehicle safety self-monitoring in young adult participants with risky vehicle behaviors. A total of 500 adult participants will be enrolled: 300 into Cohort 1 (seat belt); 100 into Cohort 2 (distracted driving); 100 into Cohort 3 (drink driving). Each SMS intervention will be designed to target a single risk behavior. The study is powered to show a difference of 15% in the percentage of subjects reporting seat belt use at week 8. Other cohort trials (i.e. distracted driving, drink driving) and outcomes will be exploratory.

Interventions

  • Behavioral: SMS Dialogue
    • Once-weekly SMS dialogue sessions or micro-interventions and use behavior change techniques (BCTs) including self-monitoring with performance feedback and goal support
  • Behavioral: SMS Assessments
    • Once-weekly SMS assessments of motor vehicle risks

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Experimental: SMS Intervention
    • Once-weekly automated SMS dialogue sessions or micro-interventions and use behavior change techniques including self-monitoring with performance feedback and goal support
  • Active Comparator: SMS Assessments
    • Once-weekly SMS assessments related to their target risk behavior without receiving any feedback or goal support

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Percentage of participants who report a vehicle risk
    • Time Frame: Week 8
    • Cohort 1: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports not using a seat belt e. Cohort 2: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports phone was used to type while driving and car was moving f. Cohort 3: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports driving a vehicle within 2 hours after consuming 2 or more drinks

Secondary Measures

  • Percentage of ED patients who screen positive and agree to enroll
    • Time Frame: Baseline
    • Measure of feasibility
  • Percentage of ED patients enrolled in the Intervention arm who complete at least 50% of the SMS assessments during the intervention period
    • Time Frame: 2 weeks to 8 weeks
    • Measure of acceptability
  • Percentage of Subjects with Vehicle Risks
    • Time Frame: Week 14
    • Cohort 1: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports not using a seat belt e. Cohort 2: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports phone was used to type while driving and car was moving f. Cohort 3: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports driving a vehicle within 2 hours after consuming 2 or more drinks

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

1) Adult participant (age ≥ 18 years & ≤25 years) 1. Cohort 1: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports not using a seat belt 2. Cohort 2: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports phone was used to type while driving and car was moving 3. Cohort 3: Any vehicle trip in past 2 weeks where individual reports driving a vehicle within 2 hours after consuming 2 or more drinks Exclusion criteria:

1. Member of a protected population (prisoner) 2. Unable to provide informed consent 3. No plan to drive and/or ride in a vehicle in the next month 4. Non-English speaking 5. No personal mobile phone or planning on changing phone in next 3 months

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 25 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University of Pittsburgh
  • Collaborator
    • University of Pennsylvania
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Maria Pacella, Assistant Professor – University of Pittsburgh
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Maria Pacella, PhD, Principal Investigator, University of Pittsburgh

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