Engaging Sexual and Gender Minority Cigarette Smokers Into Social Media-based Treatment

University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cigarette Smoking; Nicotine Dependence; Tobacco Use; Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Other: Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT); Other: Gamification; Behavioral: Social media-based education, counseling, and support

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04461288

TRDRP - T29IP0461

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research study will evaluate the preliminary efficacy of Pride Posts Plus, a social media-based smoking cessation treatment. A pilot randomized trial (N=120) will compare Pride Posts Plus, which includes a gamification element, to Pride Posts (without gamification) and to a usual care treatment. Participants will be adults who smoke, identify as sexual or gender minorities, and use Facebook. The primary outcome will be biochemically verified 7-day abstinence from smoking at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes will be treatment engagement, a quit attempt (y/n), and thoughts about tobacco abstinence at 3 and 6 mos.

Full description

Participants (N=136) will be randomized to one of three conditions: (1) Pride Posts, a Facebook-delivered smoking cessation intervention (including daily posts, and weekly live group sessions, tailored to sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults; (2) Pride Posts Plus, the Facebook-delivered smoking cessation intervention plus a gamification element, or (2) a usual care condition which includes referral to smokefree.gov, a federally-developed web-based intervention which includes similar digital treatment elements. All participants will have access to up to six months of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Assessments will occur at baseline, 3, and 6 months follow-up. Assessments will include measures on smoking, thoughts about abstinence, and SGM identity experiences. All participants who report no past 7-day smoking will be asked to provide biochemical verification of smoking status using a portable carbon monoxide measurement tool. All intervention and assessment procedures will be conducted digitally.

Enrollment: 121 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Daily smoker
• Self-identify as sexual and/or gender minority
• Interested in quitting in next 6 months
• 6 months of Facebook experience
• English-speaking

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications to nicotine replacement therapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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121 participants in 3 patient groups

Pride Posts

Experimental group

Description:

This six month intervention will be conducted on the Facebook platform. Participants will receive regular social media posts tailored to the sexual and gender minority communities (LGBTQ+). Weekly live sessions with a tobacco expert will be available. Participants will also have access to up to six months of nicotine replacement therapy (patch + gum/lozenge). Dosage will be based manufacturer's recommendations which are based on self-reported smoking behaviors.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social media-based education, counseling, and support

Other: Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT)

Pride Posts Plus

Experimental group

Description:

This six month intervention will include all elements of the Pride Posts arm. In addition, the intervention will include gamification, gaming elements designed to encourage participation in the program and behavior change. Participants will also have access to up to six months of nicotine replacement therapy (patch + gum/lozenge). Dosage will be based manufacturer's recommendations which are based on self-reported smoking behaviors.

Treatment:

Other: Gamification

Behavioral: Social media-based education, counseling, and support

Other: Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT)

Usual Care Condition

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this arm will be provided with a referral to smokefree.gov, a federally-funded website which provides support and digital-based interventions to assist in smoking cessation activities. Participants will also have access to up to six months of nicotine replacement therapy (patch + gum/lozenge). Dosage will be based manufacturer's recommendations which are based on self-reported smoking behaviors.

Treatment:

Other: Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT)