Researchers from UCL and the Royal Free Hospital have developed a mobile app named AlcoChange, which is showing promising results in helping patients with alcohol-related liver disease stay sober.
The app could potentially save hundreds of lives each year.
A study published in the journal JHEP Reports highlights the app’s effectiveness.
Astonishingly, 57% of the participants using AlcoChange remained abstinent over three months, a significant improvement compared to just 22% among those who didn’t use the app regularly.
AlcoChange employs several innovative strategies to encourage sobriety. It includes a mobile phone-based breathalyzer, which not only helps patients monitor their sobriety but also allows them to demonstrate their progress to family and friends, thereby rebuilding trust.
Additionally, the app sends personalized messages ranging from reminders of money saved by not buying alcohol to showing pictures of loved ones, aiming to motivate users and provide solutions for overcoming cravings.
One of the remarkable outcomes of the trial was the reduced number of hospital admissions among the group using the app, a benefit that extended even a year after they stopped using AlcoChange.
Dr. Gautam Mehta, the study’s first author from UCL Division of Medicine and the Royal Free Hospital, expressed optimism about the pilot study’s results.
He believes that if these findings are replicated in larger trials, digital tools like AlcoChange could offer intensive support for alcohol abstinence at home.
This is especially significant given the limited availability of medication or therapy for maintaining abstinence in patients with alcohol-related liver disease, a growing global health concern.
Professor Rajiv Jalan, the senior author of the study, also from UCL Division of Medicine and the Royal Free Hospital, highlighted the potential of digital technology in transforming patient management.
He emphasized how continuous home-delivered care through apps like AlcoChange could reduce healthcare costs and the need for patients to travel for treatment.
AlcoChange was created by Cyberliver Ltd, a UCL spin-out company co-founded by Professor Jalan.
Following the success of the initial trial, a larger, nationwide study is underway to determine the most likely beneficiaries and evaluate the app’s cost-effectiveness.
A participant in the initial study, “Susan” from North London, shared her experience. Struggling with depression and anxiety due to an abusive relationship, she turned to alcohol, consuming up to three bottles of wine a day.
Her participation in the AlcoChange study offered her a new perspective. The app’s features, especially the display of her daughter’s picture during cravings and the breathalyzer function, were instrumental in her journey towards sobriety.
Although Susan admits she still struggles with her relationship with alcohol, the trial was a positive experience, underscoring the app’s potential for individuals comfortable with smartphone technology.
This innovative approach, blending technology with personalized care, offers a new ray of hope for those battling alcohol-related liver disease, aiming to provide accessible and interactive support for many in their journey towards recovery.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about Fatty liver disease linked to severe infections and findings of A new drug for weight loss and liver health.
For more information about liver health, please see recent studies about All types of coffee could help lower the risk of chronic liver disease and results showing that Whole grains could benefit people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The research findings can be found in JHEP Reports.
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