Examining a Text Message Intervention for Smoking Cessation

Lifespan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Nicotine Dependence; Tobacco Use Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: text messaging for smoking cessation; Behavioral: Generic text messages

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT01166464

R21DA027142

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary goal of this study is to use qualitative interviews and focus groups to aid us in adapting a face-to-face smoking cessation intervention for delivery through text messaging. After design is completed, the intervention will be pilot tested with a sample of young adults (ages 18-35) who smoke. Final assessments will be conducted at 7 weeks (end of treatment) and both 3 and 6 month follow up.

Enrollment: 84 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 to 35
• Current daily smoker
• Has a cell phone with text messaging capability
• Uses text messaging at least once monthly
• Interested in quitting smoking
• Willing to set a quit date within the next 30 days
• Has access to a physician

Exclusion criteria

• Does not read and speak English with adequate comprehension
• Is currently participating in a smoking cessation program
• Concurrent drug/alcohol abuse
• Mental health issues that would interfere with study compliance

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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84 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Text Messaging

Experimental group

Description:

A text message-based intervention for smoking cessation

Treatment:

Behavioral: text messaging for smoking cessation

Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Individuals in this group will receive generic (non-smoking related) text messages on the same schedule as the intervention arm. This provides a control for staff/program contact time and participant burden.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Generic text messages