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The Less is More Study: Reducing Alcohol Use in People Living with HIV

This study, called "The Less is More Study," is looking at new ways to help people living with HIV reduce their alcohol use. It tests two types of support: counseling that gives you personalized feedback on your breath alcohol levels and how alcohol affects your thinking and body, and a mobile health (mHealth) app that makes reducing drinking more like a game. The study aims to see how many days you can stay abstinent from alcohol using a smartphone breathalyzer and how useful and easy these new methods are. You might be able to join if you are 35-70 years old, frequently use alcohol, are living with HIV, speak English, and are willing to try to reduce your drinking and use smartphone apps and biosensor devices. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 120 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Participants will engage in mobile-facilitated support for 30-60 days, using a smartphone breathalyzer and a wrist-worn alcohol biosensor.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will have follow-up for up to 6 months after the initial 30-60 day intervention period.

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NCT05153811

The Less is More Study

Recruiting
NAAges 35–70InterventionalPrevention
University of Florida
~120 participants
Updated 2025-07-31 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:CounselingmHealth

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Percent days abstinent via smartphone breathalyzer readings
Measured over Baseline to 30 Days
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Alcohol Use

Explore related trials

Alcohol use disorder

Where it's being run

2 sites across 1 states
Florida2

Study leadership

  • Robert Leeman, Ph.D · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Florida

Who to contact

Emmely Pavila
[email protected]
352-273-9562
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Frequent alcohol use in the past 30 days based on responses on the Timeline Followback (TLFB; Sobell and Sobell, 2003)
HIV positive
Fluency in English
Willingness to attempt alcohol abstinence for at least 30 days and then to attempt alcohol use on fewer days than at baseline after that
Willingness to use smartphone applications and biosensor devices (i.e., breathalyzer device and wrist sensor) for alcohol use reduction purposes in the study. If participants do not have a compatible smartphone to use, they will be loaned one by the study

Exclusion

Psychiatric conditions that would interfere with participation in the study
Current alcohol withdrawal as indicated by a score of 8 or higher on the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Scale (CIWA; Sullivan et al., 1989) or lifetime history of medically assisted detoxification
Two positive breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) readings (i.e., \> 0.00%) at an in-person screening appointment. After participants blow their first positive BrAC, they will be allowed to reschedule and participate at another time, however if they blow a second positive BrAC, they will be excluded from this study and offered referrals for alcohol treatment.
Currently seeking or past-12-month history of inpatient or intensive treatment for addictive behaviors
Psychosis or other severe psychiatric disability
Pregnancy, nursing or lack of reliable birth control use for women who have not yet reached menopause

What this trial measures

  • Percent days abstinent via smartphone breathalyzer readingsBaseline to 30 Days

    Within-subject comparison between percent abstinent days based on smartphone breathalyzer readings during the 30-Day Phase 1 Contingency Management induction compared to the 30-day baseline period based on self-report on the timeline followback

  • Predict percent days abstinent via smartphone breathalyzer readings based on risk factors.Baseline to 30 Days

    All participants will attempt to reduce alcohol consumption. Only those who are able to will continue to the second phase of the intervention. We will seek to identify which factors are predictive of abstinence.

  • Perceived value and ease of use of novel contingency management strategies to reduce alcohol consumption.30 Days to 60 Days

    Participants will engage in a Contingency Management program aimed at reducing alcohol consumption. A novel CM delivery system will be used intended to gamify the process.

  • Drinking reduction through Contingency Management will predict non-drinking outcomesBaseline to 90 days

    Participants who are able to successfully reduce their alcohol consumption may see other health benefits including reduced HIV viral load.