Videogame-based Incentives for Smoking Cessation

Rowan University

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Smoking Cessation

Treatments: Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01761760

R34DA033536 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

5R34DA033536-03

Details and patient eligibility

About

Investigators will be evaluating an online video-game-based smoking cessation intervention that will overcome barriers to treatment such as cost and sustainability. This videogame will be the first of its kind, based on an evidence-based intervention shown to promote smoking abstinence. The findings from this research will be of great public health significance because of the unprecedented reach and relatively low cost, as well as the potential for similar interventions to be developed for other health problems, such as alcohol or drug abuse and medication adherence for chronic illnesses

Full description

Cigarette smoking remains the number one cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the U.S. A number of barriers have been noted that prevent access to smoking cessation interventions, such as lack of clinician training, the time commitment required to implement treatments, and the costs associated with treatment. Thus, it is critically important that more effective interventions be developed, and be made accessible at a relatively low cost, to smokers. We recently developed an Internet-based Contingency Management Intervention (CM),, where participants submit web-camera recorded videos as they exhale into a CO monitor, and they earn money for abstinence. Although the costs associated with providing monetary incentives contingent on smoking abstinence are likely to be less than the costs associated with medical complications caused by smoking, the cost of incentives is often cited as a barrier to CM. Thus, the goals of the present proposal are to markedly decrease costs and increase sustainability of this highly accessible Internet-based CM for smoking cessation.

Using an iterative development process with the help of a team of experts, a social strategy video game intended to be fun and engaging will be developed for Facebook ("Quitters, Incorporated"). Treatment-seeking smokers will be able to earn incentives contingent on meeting web-camera verified CO values consistent with smoking abstinence. Three powerful, evidence-based incentives will be harnessed in this CM. The incentives will consist of: (1) individual contingencies that can be used to improve game play, (2) social contingencies, such as positive feedback and virtual rewards, that can be given to other players to acknowledge their success with abstinence and improve their game play, and (3) group contingencies that will require all members of a group to meet abstinence goals in order to unlock access to certain game features. After game development, we will assess the feasibility, acceptability, enjoyability, and preliminary efficacy of video-game-based CM for smoking cessation. A 7-week pilot study will involve randomly assigning participants (N=100) to either: (1) abstinent contingent, where incentives will be delivered contingent on quitting smoking, or (2) submission contingent, where incentives will be delivered contingent on submitting videos, but independent of quitting smoking.

The outcomes of the pilot study will impact future research in the development of video-game-based CM interventions for smoking, as well as for alcohol and other drug use, and medication compliance in diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. Game-based CM will promote widespread access to this innovative, fun, sustainable intervention at a relatively low cost (the game will be available to play for free), thereby offering the potential to have a substantial public health impact.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years or older
• smoking 10+ cigarettes per day
• smoking for 2+ years
• currently wishes to quit smoking
• has a computer at home with Internet access
• U.S. citizen
• literate

Exclusion criteria

• smoking other substances (e.g., marijuana, cigars) > 2 times per month
• unstable medical or psychiatric condition that might interfere with the program
• living with someone who smokes in the home
• a job that exposes the person to excessive ambient carbon monoxide

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Contingent

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will earn game-based incentives contingent on meeting carbon monoxide goals. Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Non-contingent

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will earn game-based incentives independent of meeting carbon monoxide goals. Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention