Blocking online alcohol exposure with a browser plugin: a proof-of-concept mixed methods, pilot randomized controlled trial
Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
The study intervention will be to receive access to a browser plugin blocking alcohol imagery online. The browser plugin prototype is a Chrome extension implemented using a deep learning software framework designed to train deep learning models for the browser environment. The plugin will work by intercepting and scanning every image on a webpage. It will blur the image if it is identified as depicting alcohol. In this pilot phase, it has been chosen to focus on one internet browser. Chrome has been chosen to develop the first prototype as it is the browser with the largest market share in Switzerland (48%). Intervention: participants in the intervention group will receive access to a plugin blocking (i.e. blurring) alcohol imagery online. The plugin has an “enabled” and a “disabled” button, and thus can be activated or deactivated as the users want. In the intervention group, participants will be provided with the plugin and will be able to use it as much or as little as they want. The study is a pilot trial in which assessing the acceptability and feasibility of this approach is key. Control: participants in the control group will not be given access to the plugin (no intervention control condition). They will be able to install it at the end of the study.
1. Age 18 or over 2. Current diagnostic of AUD 3. No alcohol use in the past 5 days 4. Using a personal computer to access the internet 5. Willingness to complete the follow-up assessments 6. Willingness to install the plugin and to share its usage data 7. Willingness to use Chrome as their main browser (as the prototype has been developed as a Chrome extension) 8. Able to understand and to sign a written informed consent (written in French) prior to the study
People admitted under court order or mandated treatment