Rays Night Out

Description:

This app is centred around the character Ray, a red panda, going on a night out. Users can buy Ray drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and food and can also direct Ray to engage in other activities like dancing, flirting and resting on a couch. Prompts are provided to plan and execute the night out in such a way as to avoid crossing Ray's "stupid line", or the point where Ray has drunk enough to negatively impact his experience. Warning's are given when Ray has drunk too much and he will vomit and pass out if drinking is continued. There are rewards for keeping Ray below his "stupid line" and for getting him home safely at the end of the night. Information about the effects of alcohol and how to keep track of the amount of alcohol imbibed are presented throughout the night in the form of trivia questions.

Service URL:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/rays-night-out/id978589497?mt=8

Agency Responsible:

Queensland University of Technology.

Mobile Platforms:

Apple and Android.

Details

Format:

Smartphone Application.

Intervention Type:

Educational (primarily educational material or psychoeducation).

Course Structure:

No Set Course.

Course Length:

Short (less than 1 module or equivalent).

Support Option:

No support.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Alcohol.

Target Audience:

Young Adult.

Language:

English.

Access

Mobile platforms:

Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.raysnightout&hl=en

Apple:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rays-night-out/id978589497?mt=8

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required.

Contact Details:

Can contact through: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/71765/

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

Early focus group testing of a prototype of the app was carried out. The focus groups looked at elements of app quality including engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information quality and likely effectiveness. The focus groups rated the app well for functionality and aesthetics and indicated that the app made them think about their drinking habits, but most thought that the app would not influence their drinking behaviour. 

 

No RCTs have been carried out for this app. 

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

Read more about Beacon's Smiley Rating System.

Research paper citations

1) Pocuca, N., Hides, L., Zelenko, O., Quek, L. H., Stoyanov, S., Tulloch, K., ... & Kavanagh, D. J. (2016). Initial prototype testing of Ray's Night Out: A new mobile app targeting risky drinking in young people. Computers in Human Behavior, 54, 207-214.