ground now APP study more info
Thanks for your interest in our Ground Now App study. This study is funded by the National Institutes on Health and is being conducted by Lisa M. Najavits, PhD and Treatment Innovations, Newton, MA.
The goal of this study is to evaluate a new investigational phone app that we are developing for young adults ages 18-25 who have a substance abuse problem. The phone app is designed for “grounding” (reducing negative feelings, and creating a feeling of calm). We are recruiting up to 350 young adults. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. The entire study will last about two years.
The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a new mobile phone app that is designed to help young adults who have substance abuse problems become more aware of their emotions, as a way to help them reduce substance use.
Interested? Fill out a very short online survey. It asks basic information about you (such as age, gender, whether you use a smartphone, etc.). If you are eligible, we will get in touch with you.
What is it? The study has 4 parts and you may be eligible to participate in one or more parts.
Study part A: First set of focus groups or interviews. A member of our study team will conduct the focus groups /interviews either in person or over the phone or online and will ask a series of questions. The focus groups/interviews will be audio-recorded so that our team can listen to it later to identify important points that came up. The focus group/interview would last up to 1.5 hours. You would also be asked to fill out a measure to provide basic information about yourself (such as age, gender, how much you use a smartphone, etc.) The measure would be filled out either online or on paper or by phone.
Study part B: Second set of focus groups or interviews—first version of the grounding app. This will be conducted exactly the same as described in Study Part A above.
Study part C: Using a Grounding app. We are currently recruiting for this part
To be eligible for this phase of the study phase you need to have a mobile phone so that you can download one of our study phone apps.
i. First, you would first go through an assessment that will include various measures that ask about your substance use and related problems, and other areas relevant to this project (such as your knowledge of Grounding). Some of the measures will be based on interview (which may be done by phone or in person), and other measures will be ones where you can write in your answers (which can be done online, on paper, or over the phone). The entire assessment will take up to 1.5 hours.
ii. Second, if you are found to be eligible for this project based on the assessment, you will be assigned by chance (randomly) to one of the following two study conditions, and you will have a 50% chance of being assigned to each group: (1) the enhanced app condition (which will be given access to the enhanced phone app, which is designed to provide a very appealing, interesting way to learn and use Grounding); or (2) the basic app condition (who will be given access to a phone app that provides basic information about Grounding). Whichever study condition you are assigned to, you will receive a unique login and password so that you could download the app onto your smartphone. All participants will be given access to their app (enhanced or basic) for 6 weeks and only those 6 weeks. You will also be sent a automated text reminders to use app based on a schedule that you prefer.
iii. Finally, after your 6 weeks using the app you will be asked to complete an assessment that is like the one you did in the section “I” above. You will also be asked how much you liked the app and to answer questions about it. Your use of the app will also be automatically part of our database. This means that we will be able to identify how often you used the app and what parts of it you used.
Study part D: Final set of focus groups or interviews—final version of the enhanced grounding app.
This will be conducted exactly the same as described in Study Part A above.
More info? You can read our study consent form and study flyer to learn more. You do not need to sign the consent form at this time. You can also email [email protected] or text us at 617-299-1610.
The goal of this study is to evaluate a new investigational phone app that we are developing for young adults ages 18-25 who have a substance abuse problem. The phone app is designed for “grounding” (reducing negative feelings, and creating a feeling of calm). We are recruiting up to 350 young adults. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. The entire study will last about two years.
The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a new mobile phone app that is designed to help young adults who have substance abuse problems become more aware of their emotions, as a way to help them reduce substance use.
Interested? Fill out a very short online survey. It asks basic information about you (such as age, gender, whether you use a smartphone, etc.). If you are eligible, we will get in touch with you.
What is it? The study has 4 parts and you may be eligible to participate in one or more parts.
Study part A: First set of focus groups or interviews. A member of our study team will conduct the focus groups /interviews either in person or over the phone or online and will ask a series of questions. The focus groups/interviews will be audio-recorded so that our team can listen to it later to identify important points that came up. The focus group/interview would last up to 1.5 hours. You would also be asked to fill out a measure to provide basic information about yourself (such as age, gender, how much you use a smartphone, etc.) The measure would be filled out either online or on paper or by phone.
Study part B: Second set of focus groups or interviews—first version of the grounding app. This will be conducted exactly the same as described in Study Part A above.
Study part C: Using a Grounding app. We are currently recruiting for this part
To be eligible for this phase of the study phase you need to have a mobile phone so that you can download one of our study phone apps.
i. First, you would first go through an assessment that will include various measures that ask about your substance use and related problems, and other areas relevant to this project (such as your knowledge of Grounding). Some of the measures will be based on interview (which may be done by phone or in person), and other measures will be ones where you can write in your answers (which can be done online, on paper, or over the phone). The entire assessment will take up to 1.5 hours.
ii. Second, if you are found to be eligible for this project based on the assessment, you will be assigned by chance (randomly) to one of the following two study conditions, and you will have a 50% chance of being assigned to each group: (1) the enhanced app condition (which will be given access to the enhanced phone app, which is designed to provide a very appealing, interesting way to learn and use Grounding); or (2) the basic app condition (who will be given access to a phone app that provides basic information about Grounding). Whichever study condition you are assigned to, you will receive a unique login and password so that you could download the app onto your smartphone. All participants will be given access to their app (enhanced or basic) for 6 weeks and only those 6 weeks. You will also be sent a automated text reminders to use app based on a schedule that you prefer.
iii. Finally, after your 6 weeks using the app you will be asked to complete an assessment that is like the one you did in the section “I” above. You will also be asked how much you liked the app and to answer questions about it. Your use of the app will also be automatically part of our database. This means that we will be able to identify how often you used the app and what parts of it you used.
Study part D: Final set of focus groups or interviews—final version of the enhanced grounding app.
This will be conducted exactly the same as described in Study Part A above.
More info? You can read our study consent form and study flyer to learn more. You do not need to sign the consent form at this time. You can also email [email protected] or text us at 617-299-1610.