Using Personalized Interactive Narratives to Help Adolescents Reduce Alcohol Use and Improve Health Behaviors in Clinical Care

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a new health behavior change system designed to help adolescents reduce risky behaviors, particularly alcohol use. This study focuses on using advanced machine learning and interactive narrative technology to personalize behavior change experiences for teens aged 15 to 17. The goal is to improve adolescent preventive health by integrating these tools into clinical care and extending the reach of healthcare providers. The intervention, called CHANGEGRADIENTS, is a web-based interactive tool that delivers personalized behavior change stories through a virtual environment. Adolescents will first watch a brief introductory video during their clinic visit and then receive a link to access weekly interactive narratives at home over a four-week period. The study compares this intervention with usual care provided at the clinic. Participants will engage with the system at home using personal devices like laptops or tablets, while also receiving standard clinic visits. The research team will measure outcomes including alcohol use over 30 days, self-efficacy using a specialized assessment tool, and adolescent-reported quality of care immediately after their clinic visit. The study aims to assess the impact of the intervention on adolescent behavior and health outcomes over a one-month period.

ChangeGradients: Promoting Adolescent Health Behavior Change