Mobile Phone Apps for Behavioral Interventions for At-Risk Drinkers in Australia: Literature Review

BACKGROUND: The mobile technology era has ushered in the use of mobile phone apps for behavioral intervention for at-risk drinkers. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to review recent research relevant to mobile phone apps that can be used for behavioral intervention for at-risk drinkers in Australia. METHODS: The inclusion criteria for this review were articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 2001 to 2017 with use of the search terms “smartphone application,” “alcohol,” “substance,” “behavioural intervention,” “electronic health,” and “mobile health.” RESULTS: In total, we identified 103 abstracts, screened 90 articles, and assessed 50 full-text articles that fit the inclusion criteria for eligibility. We included 19 articles in this review. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlighted the paucity of evidence-based and empirically validated research into effective mobile phone apps that can be used for behavioral interventions with at-risk drinkers in Australia.