Acceptability and quality of the 'Grog Survey App' brief intervention: Helping Aboriginal Australians reflect on their drinking using a digital health tool

Ks Kylie Lee; James H Conigrave; Elizabeth Dale; Katherine M Conigrave; Monika Dzidowska; Taleah Reynolds; Scott Wilson; Jimmy Perry; Danielle Manton; Alex Lee; Noel Hayman; Catherine Zheng; Michelle Fitts; Dan Wilson; Angela Dawson

doi:10.1111/dar.13964

Acceptability and quality of the 'Grog Survey App' brief intervention: Helping Aboriginal Australians reflect on their drinking using a digital health tool

Drug Alcohol Rev. 2024 Oct 24. doi: 10.1111/dar.13964. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ks Kylie Lee^{1

2

3

4

5}, James H Conigrave¹, Elizabeth Dale^{1

6}, Katherine M Conigrave^{2

3

7}, Monika Dzidowska^{1

3}, Taleah Reynolds¹, Scott Wilson^{1

8}, Jimmy Perry^{1

8}, Danielle Manton⁹, Alex Lee⁹, Noel Hayman^{10

11

12}, Catherine Zheng^{1

3}, Michelle Fitts^{13

14}, Dan Wilson¹⁵, Angela Dawson¹⁶

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
² The Edith Collins Centre (Translation Research in Alcohol, Drugs and Toxicology), Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
³ Faculty of Medicine and Health, Central Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ National Drug Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
⁵ Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
⁷ Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Drug Health Services, Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
⁹ The Glen Group, Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation, Gosford, Australia.
¹⁰ Southern Queensland Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (Inala Indigenous Health Service), Brisbane, Australia.
¹¹ School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
¹² School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
¹³ Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁴ Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, Australia.
¹⁵ Alice Springs Hospital, NT Health, Alice Springs, Australia.
¹⁶ Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 39449109
DOI: 10.1111/dar.13964

Abstract

Introduction: The Grog Survey App is a validated, visual and interactive self-administered application for tablet computers that is designed to help Aboriginal Australians describe their alcohol consumption. Each person who completes the App also receives a brief intervention with feedback tailored to their survey responses. We aimed to qualitatively assess the acceptability and perceived quality of the Grog App's brief intervention, among higher risk consumers and health providers at an Aboriginal residential rehabilitation centre.

Methods: This descriptive qualitative study analysed feedback from clients (n = 20) and staff (n = 10) of a drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation service on the brief intervention element of the Grog App. Data were collected face-to-face via semi-structured interviews over four consecutive weeks between May and June 2021. A content analysis was conducted, which was informed by the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS).

Results: Client and staff feedback is summarised using four themes from the MARS framework: (i) aesthetics; (ii) engagement; (iii) functionality; and (iv) information. Most clients and staff felt like health messages on the brief intervention were written by 'someone who understands'. Overall, clients and staff described the brief intervention as visually appealing, engaging and likely able to elicit 'lightbulb moments'.

Discussion and conclusion: The brief intervention on the Grog App is unique in its provision of tailored advice based on survey responses to all individuals (i.e., those who do not drink through to those with likely dependence). Further research is needed to assess effectiveness of this brief intervention.

Keywords: Aboriginal; Grog Survey App; Torres Strait Islander; alcohol; brief intervention.

Abstract

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