Nonsmokers Helping Smokers Quit (Project BEST)

University of California San Diego

Status: Completed

Conditions: Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Behavioral: Messages targeting smokers; Behavioral: Messages targeting nonsmokers

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02010697

UO1 CA154280 IRB #130764

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examines whether nonsmokers can be mobilized to help smokers quit. We will test, via mail campaign, whether targeting nonsmokers can be equally effective in increasing smokers' quit rate as targeting smokers directly. The hypothesis is that both targeted interventions will lead to a higher quit rate than a control group, which receives one set of self-help materials. Each of the targeted intervention groups receives 10 mailings. Smoking status of all three groups will be measured at 3 and 7 months post randomization.

Full description

This study examines the potential of enlisting nonsmokers to help smokers quit smoking. Nonsmokers are the majority of the society. If an intervention can be designed to mobilize nonsmokers to help smokers quit, then it has strong implications for increasing smoking cessation at the population level. The conventional approach in smoking cessation is to target smokers directly. This study aims to test whether targeting nonsmokers can be equally effective. The study employs a three arm randomized design, in which a smoker-nonsmoker pair in the same household will be randomized into one of the three groups. One group receives materials targeting the smoker in the household, one group receives materials targeting the nonsmoker, and the third group serve as a control group. The intervention consists of mailed materials which include postcards, informational materials, CDs, DVDs, coupons for cessation-related incentives such as nicotine patches, and links to secured websites. The mail campaign is augmented with brief phone calls to ensure receipt of mailings and to reinforce targeted messages.The mail campaign is augmented with brief phone calls to ensure receipt of mailings and to reinforce targeted messages. At 3 and 7 months post randomization, project staff contact all participants to assess their smoking status.

Enrollment: 3,125 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years or older
• A household with at least one smoker and one nonsmoker
• Valid contact information
• English proficiency, both speaking and reading

Exclusion criteria

• Insufficient contact information

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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3,125 participants in 3 patient groups

Messages targeting nonsmokers

Experimental group

Description:

Messages targeting nonsmokers include 10 mailings for nonsmokers sent over 10 weeks. The mailed materials include postcards, informational materials, CDs, DVDs, coupons for cessation-related incentives such as nicotine patches, and links to secured websites. The mail campaign is augmented with brief phone calls to ensure receipt of mailings and to reinforce targeted messages.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Messages targeting nonsmokers

Messages targeting smokers

Experimental group

Description:

Messages targeting smokers include 10 mailings for smokers sent over 10 weeks. The mailed materials include postcards, informational materials, CDs, DVDs, coupons for cessation-related incentives such as nicotine patches, and links to secured websites. The mail campaign is augmented with brief phone calls to ensure receipt of mailings and to reinforce targeted messages.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Messages targeting smokers

Usual care

No Intervention group

Description:

one time mailing with a self-help quit kit