A technology-based intervention to reduce alcohol use after metabolic and bariatric surgery: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes
Recommended Citation
Miller-Matero LR, Pappas C, Christopher B, Grossi R, Vanderziel A, Barnett NP, Moore RS, Hamann A, Carlin AM, Varban OA, and Braciszewski JM. A technology-based intervention to reduce alcohol use after metabolic and bariatric surgery: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes. Surg Obes Relat Dis 2025.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-18-2025
Publication Title
Surg Obes Relat Dis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) are at increased risk for an alcohol use disorder. A technology-based intervention, rooted in motivational interviewing, could broadly reach patients after MBS and has the potential to reduce alcohol use.
OBJECTIVE: Examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a technology-based intervention to reduce alcohol use delivered after MBS.
SETTING: Health system.
METHODS: Participants (N = 60) who were 3-18 months post-MBS were randomized to the intervention or treatment-as-usual control group. The tailored intervention consisted of 2 (15-minute) sessions of interactive web-based content followed by 3-months of daily text messaging. Participants completed baseline and a postintervention assessment (91.7% retention).
RESULTS: Participants were primarily female (90%), White (55.0%) or Black (43.3%), with a mean age of 44.6 years (SD = 10.4). Of those randomized to the intervention (n = 24), 83.3% (n = 20) began the intervention and 95% (n = 19) completed it. The majority of participants rated all intervention components positively and 100% agreed that other patients would use the intervention. The intervention group reported a significant increase in level of motivation to avoid alcohol use from baseline to postintervention (P = .02), whereas the control group did not show a significant change (P = .73). At the postintervention, the intervention group had significantly fewer participants endorsing alcohol use than the control group (43.5% versus 75%; X(2) = 5.63, P = .02).
CONCLUSION: A technology-based intervention delivered after MBS was feasible, acceptable, and showed promising preliminary outcomes for increasing motivation to avoid alcohol use as well as reducing alcohol use.
PubMed ID
40885652
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
