The Impact of Waterpipe Tobacco Flavors on Waterpipe Smoking Intentions, Perceptions, Patterns, and Toxicant Exposure

University of Oklahoma (OU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Smoking, Hookah; Waterpipe Smoking

Treatments: Behavioral: Flavored-very low sweetened waterpipe; Behavioral: Unflavored-very low sweetened waterpipe tobacco; Behavioral: Unflavored-sweetened waterpipe tobacco; Behavioral: Flavored-Sweetened Waterpipe Tobacco

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03232827

1R03DA041928-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The overall aim of the current study is to determine if flavorings contribute to the initiation and maintenance of waterpipe (WP) smoking and also influence how a WP is smoked, which has implications for both risk of dependence but also smokers' level of exposure to tobacco-related toxicants. A total of 94 current WP smokers (47 low dependent, 47 high dependent) will be recruited. Based on our team's previous studies we conservatively assume a 20% attrition rate; thus, we will need to recruit 94 participants to have 76 complete all four sessions. Consistent with other laboratory studies of waterpipe smoking, participants who meet the following eligibility criteria will be asked to take part in the study.

Full description

After completing the initial screening by phone, participants will be informed of the study procedures and invited to the lab to complete three WP smoking sessions. Participants will perform exhaled carbon monoxide testing (eCO< 10ppm) and confirm that they have not used any nicotine/tobacco/marijuana products over the last 12 hours. Pregnancy exclusion will also be confirmed with a urine test, and pregnancy tests will be completed at each visit throughout the study. Participants will be randomized and complete study procedures in self-selected dyads. The sessions will be counterbalanced and include: 1) smoking preferred flavored-sweetened WP tobacco, 2) smoking unflavored-sweetened WP tobacco, and 3) smoking unflavored-very low sweetened WP tobacco. Participants will complete all three study visits in the laboratory. Pre-session abstinence from tobacco for at least 12 hours will be mandatory for all participants. Abstinence will be confirmed via participant self-report and an exhaled carbon monoxide monitor (< 20 ppm) for tobacco use. Participant dyads will smoke hookah ad libitum for up to 1 hour. This procedure will be completed for all visits. Participants will also complete a minimum 48-hour washout period between sessions.

Participants will not be allowed to eat, drink or use their phone during the session. Initially, one piece of charcoal will be lit and placed on top of the foil. Our preliminary studies, as well as other WP laboratory trials, indicate that one piece of charcoal will not be sufficient for one WP session; thus, participants will be provided additional pre-weighed pieces to use as they wish. Use of additional charcoal will be recorded. Participants will smoke ad libitum and a WP puff topography device will discretely record smoking behavior throughout the session, including puff duration, number of puffs, puff volume, puff flow rate, and time between puffs. Blood samples (15mL per sample) and eCO will be collected immediately pre- and post-waterpipe session. Self-report measures will be administered.

Enrollment: 91 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• current water pipe smoker for at least the past 6 months
• smoke water pipe at least 3 times in the last 6 months
• Lebanese Waterpipe Dependence Scale-11 (LWDS-11) score of ≤9 (Low Dependence) or ≥10 (High Dependence)
• between 18-50 years old
• willing to provide informed consent
• abstain from all tobacco, nicotine, and marijuana use for at least 12 hours prior to each of the three sessions

Exclusion criteria

• self-reported diagnosis of lung disease including asthma, cystic fibrosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• currently pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• history of cardiac event or distress within the last 3 months
• any use of other illicit drugs during the last 30 days.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

91 participants in 4 patient groups

Flavored-sweetened

Active Comparator group

Description:

Flavored-sweetened (FS) WP tobacco will be associated with longer and more frequent puffing resulting in the greatest overall levels of smoke inhalation (mL of smoke inhaled), highest abuse potential, and greatest levels of exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO). , followed by unflavored-sweetened WP, and lastly unflavored-very low sweetened WP. (H1d) A majority of WP smokers will report having initiated WP smoking with flavored-sweetened tobacco and report flavoring as an important reason for trying WP.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Flavored-Sweetened Waterpipe Tobacco

Unflavored-sweetened

Active Comparator group

Description:

Unflavored-sweetened (US) WP will be associated with the second longest and slightly less frequent puffing than FS resulting in the second greatest overall levels of smoke inhalation (mL of smoke inhaled), abuse potential, and levels of exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Unflavored-sweetened waterpipe tobacco

Unflavored very low sweetened

Active Comparator group

Description:

Unflavored-very low sweetened (UU) WP will be associated with the shortest and the least frequent puffing resulting in the least overall levels of smoke inhalation (mL of smoke inhaled), abuse potential, and levels of exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Unflavored-very low sweetened waterpipe tobacco

Flavored-very low sweetened waterpipe

Active Comparator group

Description:

Flavored-very low sweetened WP will be associated with the third longest and slightly less frequent puffing than US resulting in the third greatest overall levels of smoke inhalation (mL of smoke inhaled), abuse potential, and levels of exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Flavored-very low sweetened waterpipe