Empowering Cessation ACS South Region (CHERC)

University of Oklahoma (OU)

Status and phase: Begins enrollment this month; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Other: Empowering Cessation for the ACS South

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06820034

17874

1181502 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM) people face a disproportionate burden of cancer risk, and tobacco use is a key modifiable risk factor. SGM tobacco-related disparities are especially pronounced in places with high levels of stigma against SGM people. This community-engaged and remotely-delivered Research Scholar Grant project will evaluate an empowerment-based smoking cessation intervention tailored for SGM people in high-stigma places. In partnership with Freedom Oklahoma (OK) and a Community Advisory Board from Arkansas (AR) and Texas (TX) this projects aims to: (1) Adapt SGM-serving volunteer activities from the Oklahoma intervention pilot study for delivery in nearby states; (2) Test intervention efficacy among SGM adults in OK, AR, and TX; (3) Identify treatment mechanisms.

Enrollment: 400 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 100 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

• Currently using other smoking cessation treatments.
• Unable or unwilling to use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
• Serious psychological distress (i.e., score of 13 ≥ 18 on the Kessler Psychological Distress (PD) Scale-6 19)

Inclusion criteria will be:

1. ≥ 18 years old
2. sexual and/or gender minority-identified (SGM) (see definition below)
3. living in Oklahoma, Texas, or Arkansas (verified by address)
4. a current cigarette smoker (see definition)
5. willing to quit smoking within 30 days of enrollment (see definition)
6. ability to read and speak English 'well' or 'very well'
7. ≥ weekly internet access
8. willing and able to participate in SGM-serving volunteer activities.
9. own a smartphone

Sexual minority identity will be indicated by selecting any non-heterosexual response option(s) from: Heterosexual (Straight); Gay or Lesbian; Bisexual; Something else (please state)." Participants will indicate the sex assigned on their birth certificate (i.e., natal sex). Gender minority identity will be indicated by "Trans male/Trans man;" "Trans female/Trans woman;" "Gender queer/Gender non-conforming;" "Different identity (please state)" or a binary identity (male or female) non-concordant with natal sex.

Current cigarette smoking will be indicated by ≥100 lifetime cigarettes and currently smoking cigarettes "every day" or "some days".

High SGM stigma states are defined as the 22 states wherein ˂60% of the population 'thinks that homosexuality should be accepted'. High SGM stigma municipalities are defined as one of the 246 U.S. municipalities (out of the 496 scored from all U.S. states) that scored below the median (71) on the HRC Municipal Equality Index.

Willingness to quit smoking will be assessed with a single item: "Are you willing to quit smoking cigarettes within 30 days after enrolling in this study? (yes/no)". To be classified as 'ready to quit smoking,' participants will report readiness to quit in the next 30 days and at least 1 past-year quit attempt (i.e., in the "Preparation" stage of change).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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400 participants in 2 patient groups

Smoking cessation support + volunteering

Experimental group

Description:

This group will receive remotely-delivered smoking cessation support by using the National Cancer Institute's smoking cessation app and receive combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; i.e., lozenges/gum, patches). Additionally, they will engage in sexual and/or gender minority (SGM)-serving online volunteer activities (≥4 sessions) and a digital hub to foster interaction across Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas.

Treatment:

Other: Empowering Cessation for the ACS South

Smoking cessation support ONLY

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive remotely-delivered smoking cessation support by using the National Cancer Institute's smoking cessation app and receive combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; i.e., lozenges/gum, patches).