This project develops a structured, standardized, and reusable database of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating digital interventions targeting alcohol consumption and problematic alcohol use (PUA). A systematic literature search will be conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, and the protocol will be registered in PROSPERO. Eligible studies include RCTs of digitally delivered interventions (e.g., internet- and mobile-based programs) across the full spectrum of alcohol use, including non-clinical, subclinical, and clinical populations, as well as populations with comorbid psychiatric conditions, provided that alcohol-related outcomes are reported.
Data will be systematically extracted at the study level, including population characteristics, intervention characteristics, delivery mode, intervention format, comparator conditions, follow-up duration, and alcohol-related outcomes. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool, and certainty of evidence will be evaluated using GRADE.
The project establishes a structured, standardized, and reusable RCT database designed for direct meta-analytic application. Moving beyond traditional static reviews, this approach shifts evidence synthesis toward a continuously expandable meta-analytic infrastructure. By enabling harmonized analyses across studies, the database supports identification of intervention effectiveness and sources of heterogeneity across populations, intervention characteristics, and outcome domains. Ultimately, this framework facilitates more precise and scalable evidence synthesis to inform tailored digital prevention and treatment strategies for PUA.