Testing the Integration of Smartphone Technology into Primary Care
Thank you for your interest in the Alcohol and Wellness study! Unfortunately, the study has reached full capacity and we are no longer accepting new participants. If you would like to learn more about the relationship between alcohol and wellness please contact your primary care provider.
Alcohol consumption has been shown to affect physical and mental health, quality of life, and overall wellness. The prevalence of drinking in the United States suggests that drinking comprises a broad spectrum of patterns ranging from low-risk alcohol use to severe abuse or dependence. Efforts to promote health, support wellness, and reduce risks associated with alcohol use have been identified as important health priorities for individuals and communities, alike.
Because smartphone technology offers individuals an additional tool for monitoring, understanding, and managing their personal health, the smartphone application at the center of this study, called Tula, has the potential to help people drink less, understand the connections between alcohol use and wellness, and build lasting, healthy habits.
This research is sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health.
The word Tula means “balance” in Sanskrit. The Tula smartphone app is designed to help people balance their health-related goals with their drinking. Its features and tools include a drink tracker, an information library with content and strategies for building healthy habits and reducing drinking, a collection of guided meditations and relaxation techniques, links to helpful websites, and space to collect personal notes and digital resources for inspiration and motivation. Tula also includes communication tools, such as private messaging, and some users will have access to an in-app discussion forum, where Tula users may interact and provide support or encouragement to one another.
Did you know . . .
- 1 in 3 adults drink above the recommended limits?
- recommended limits vary by sex and age:
- for women and men over 65, experts recommend no more than 3 drinks on any day and no more than 7 drinks per week.
- for men 65 and younger, experts recommend no more than 4 drinks on any day and no more than 14 drinks per week.
- only 2% of people that drink within (or under) the recommended limits have alcohol use disorder (AUD)
- Drinking within the recommended limits may promote . . .
- healthy weight
- better mood
- quality sleep
- healthy relationships
- improved performance at work and school
- Limits are defined by number of drinks, so what counts as “one drink”?
- As the alcohol content increases, the serving size decreases. This graphic from the NIAAA’s “Rethinking Drinking” website offers a great visual guide:
Photo: NIAAA Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol & Your Health U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
- As the alcohol content increases, the serving size decreases. This graphic from the NIAAA’s “Rethinking Drinking” website offers a great visual guide:
Click here to access Tula’s frequently asked questions: https://isel.wisc.edu/tula-faq/