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Enhancing Alcohol Treatment Engagement in Associated Liver Disease (ALD) Patients

Enhancing Alcohol Treatment Engagement in ALD Patients

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06269510
Acronym
ENGAGE-ALD
Enrollment
268
Registered
2024-02-21
Start date
2026-01-28
Completion date
2030-02-01
Last updated
2026-02-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alcohol-related Liver Disease, Liver Diseases

Keywords

Online web application, Engagement, Alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, Alcohol-related cirrhosis, SMART trial, Behavioral treatment

Brief summary

The purpose of this trial is to see if providing patients with alcohol-related liver disease with tailored alcohol use treatment options will increase engagement with treatment and correct possible misconceptions.

Detailed description

Eligible participants will be randomized to stage 1 of treatment which consists of a previously pilot-tested behavioral application (app), the ENGAGE-ALD app, consisting of a knowledge improvement module and a preference-sensitive treatment matching module. Those who do not engage in AUD treatment after randomization ('non-responders') will be re-randomized at 3-months and continue on this in stage two if considered a responder (met treatment engagement). Participants that were not considered to have met "treatment engagement" will be re-randomized at 3-months to a Treatment Facilitation bundle consisting of a barriers to treatment survey followed by a health coaching session.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALENGAGE-ALD Application (APP)

Participants randomized to this will complete the app at the time of enrollment. If in-person, will complete the app on a research laptop or iPad. The ENGAGE-ALD app consists of two modules developed based on preliminary data: 1) a misconception correction module and 2) a treatment matching module designed to match patients to participant's preferred form of alcohol treatment based on preferences for 19 different dimensions of alcohol treatment. The intervention will consist of administering a single session of the ENGAGE-ALD app.

BEHAVIORALTreatment Facilitation bundle

Participants will complete a survey. The module includes motivational interviewing-informed content tailored to address and assist in overcoming barriers. After taking the survey, participants will receive a virtual coaching session (either via phone or online virtual platform). Sessions will focus on identifying participant goals with respect to alcohol use and liver health, providing education on risks of alcohol use to liver health and risks of relapse, reviewing participants individually identified barriers to alcohol treatment, exploring benefits of and these barriers to alcohol treatment, and performing collaborative goal-setting, among other topics.

BEHAVIORALEnhanced Usual Care

This group will receive standard hepatology care, and an educational pamphlet defining alcohol treatment resources available within Michigan Medicine and giving information on how participants can access these resources. This information will be given directly to participants that enroll in person or e-mailed to participants or sent via postal mail for those that enroll remotely.

Sponsors

Henry Ford Health System
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Computer-generated urn randomization will ensure balanced groups based on stage of ALD (advanced ALD and non-advanced ALD) and inpatient versus outpatient status at time of recruitment. Second stage randomization to 3-month intervention conditions will be stratified based on response and non-response status. Urn randomization using stage of ALD and inpatient versus outpatient recruitment will also be used at the second stage randomization. Re-randomization of non-responders will be computerized and stratified by stage of ALD and inpatient vs outpatient status.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study * Willing and able to provide informed consent * Enrolled at University of Michigan (UM) hepatology clinics or inpatients at UM Hospitals * Documented diagnosis of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) (per protocol) * Recent alcohol use of any amount within the past 6 months as assessed by either patient interview, medical chart review, or positive alcohol biomarker (e.g. blood alcohol level, urinary ethyl glucuronide, urinary ethyl sulfate, or phosphatidylethanol) in the medical record. * No alcohol use treatment within the past 1 month including, but not limited to: * Any professionally lead therapy with a mental health counselor (such as, one-on-one therapy, group therapy, couples or family therapy) with a primary aim of alcohol abstinence or reduction in alcohol use. * Community-based alcohol recovery groups (such as, Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, Refuge Recovery) * Community-based church support groups primarily focused on alcohol abstinence or reduction in use. * Residential (inpatient) alcohol treatment * Intensive outpatient programs * Any telehealth version of the above options * Access to a Smartphone or computer for purposes of follow-up. Those who do not have a Smartphone will be provided one along with a calling/data plan at no cost to subject by the study team for the duration of the research stud. * Ability to speak and comprehend English

Exclusion criteria

* Unable to provide voluntary informed consent for any reason * Substantially cognitively impaired as evidenced by Westhaven grade 2 or higher hepatic encephalopathy or a score \>=10 on the Short Blessed Test for cognitive impairment. * Unable to read or understand English * Undergoing active evaluation for liver transplantation, is listed for liver transplant, or is post-transplantation * Is enrolled in the multidisciplinary ALD clinic at Michigan Medicine * Any other medical condition or circumstance that precludes safe and meaningful participation in the study * History of nonadherence to previous clinical or research studies

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Alcohol treatment engagementBaseline and six monthsMeasured using self-report and defined as any single session (in-person or virtual) of the following: * Professional mental health counselor led one-on-one therapy, group therapy, couples, or family therapy with a primary aim of alcohol abstinence or reduction in alcohol use. * Community-based alcohol recovery groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, Refuge Recovery) * Community-based church support groups primarily focused on alcohol abstinence or reduction in use * Residential (inpatient) alcohol treatment * Intensive outpatient programs * Any telehealth version of the above options

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Alcohol Use Frequency as Measured by a 30-day alcohol recall calendar methodBaseline and six months
Percent heavy drinking days (PHDD)Six monthsA heavy drinking day is defined as 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women.
Change in Liver health based on liver laboratory values (aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase) for all participantsBaseline and six months
Change in Liver health based on liver laboratory values (total bilirubin) for all participantsBaseline and six months
Change in Liver health based on The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score in participants with cirrhosis or alcoholic hepatitisBaseline and six monthsMinimum MELD score: 6 points. Maximum MELD score: 40 points. Higher scores is considered a worse result.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTMatthew Melican
mmelica1@hfhs.org3138744656
CONTACTJessica Mellinger, MD
jmellin2@hfhs.org3134281536
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJessica Mellinger, MD, MSc

Henry Ford Health System

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026