Exploring Functions of a Smartphone-Based Digital Alcohol Consumption Intervention Mini-Program to Address Difficulties of Abstinence for Native Drinkers in China: A Mixed Methods Approach

doi:10.1007/s12204-023-2685-9

Abstract

Abstract: Chinese Wine Culture influences people’s attitudes toward alcohol. The current study focuses on exploring the main features of a localized digital alcohol consumption intervention mini-program to address the difficulties of abstinence for native drinkers, as a promising way for long-term management of rehabilitation from alcohol use disorder. A mixed-method approach was used in this study. The self-report quantitative questionnaire recruited three groups of participants: 89 drinkers, 67 drinkers’ relatives, and 30 medical staff. The focus group qualitative interview inspected 36 participants’ perspectives on the core topics, including 21 drinkers, 4 drinkers’ relatives, and 11 medical staff. The results of combining the quantitative study and qualitative study indicated that the top difficulties of abstinence for native drinkers are the strong craving from the inside, the environmental influence, and the psychological health status, especially emotional states. Correspondingly, the most desired main features in an alcohol consumption digital intervention tool are the daily track of drinking conditions and craving level, periodic feedback reports that can share with others, and mood improvement training. Moreover, the top factors that influence participants’ intention to use/recommend the tool are whether the tool is effective, whether the user experience is good, and whether the tool can replenish the deficiency of the current alcohol treatment. Future work needs to balance what patients want and what others around them expect, so that potential users can benefit best from the digital intervention tool in the context of Chinese culture.

Key words: alcohol use disorders, alcohol consumption, rehabilitation management, digital mental health intervention, mini-program

摘要： 中国有着特殊的“酒文化”，影响人们对酒的态度。本研究旨在探索酒精使用数字干预本土化小程序应具备的主要特征，以解决本地饮酒者戒酒的困难，进而为酒精使用障碍患者的长期康复管理提供一种有前景的手段。本研究采用了混合方法进行研究。自评定量问卷招募了三组参与者，89名饮酒者，67名饮酒者亲属和30名成瘾领域医务人员；焦点小组质性访谈调查了36名参与者对两个核心主题的看法，包括21名饮酒者，4名饮酒者亲属，以及成瘾领域医务人员11名。结合定量研究和定性研究的结果表明，本地饮酒者在戒酒过程中最大的困难是：发自内心的强烈渴求；环境的影响；心理健康状况，尤其是情绪状态。相应地，最期望酒精使用数字干预小程序具备的主要功能是：每日跟踪饮酒情况和渴求程度；可以与他人分享的定期反馈报告；情绪改善训练。此外，影响本土饮酒者使用工具意愿的首要因素是：工具是否有效；使用体验是否良好；工具能否补充目前酒精治疗的不足。未来的工作需要平衡患者的需求和外界他人的期望，以便中国文化背景下的潜在用户能更多地从数字干预工具中获益。

关键词: 酒精使用障碍，酒精使用，康复管理，数字心理健康干预，小程序

CLC Number:

R318

Tang Yuzhen, Du Jiang, Zhang Dapeng, Wu Xiaojun, Long Yan, Zhang Lei, Chen Tianzhen. Exploring Functions of a Smartphone-Based Digital Alcohol Consumption Intervention Mini-Program to Address Difficulties of Abstinence for Native Drinkers in China: A Mixed Methods Approach[J]. J Shanghai Jiaotong Univ Sci, 2025, 30(4): 751-758.

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