7-day Point Prevalence Abstinence Research Articles

Survival Outcomes of an Early Intervention Smoking Cessation Treatment After a Cancer Diagnosis

Smoking after a cancer diagnosis increases mortality and risk for a second cancer. To determine the association between time of entry into a smoking cessation intervention following a cancer diagnosis and survival outcomes. Using a prospective cohort study design, patients with cancer who smoked and received cessation treatment were assessed at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months following tobacco treatment onset. Survival outcomes of tobacco treatment were measured and compared among patients at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Tobacco Research and Treatment Program. Treatment occurred between January 1, 2006, and March 3, 2022. Patients were excluded if they died before the tobacco treatment ended, received their diagnosis more than 6 months after beginning cessation treatment, or lacked staging information. The data analysis took place from September 2023 to May 2024. Cessation treatment consisted of 6 to 8 personalized counseling visits and 10 to 12 weeks of pharmacotherapy. More than 95% of visits were provided via telemedicine. The primary outcomes were survival as recorded in the MD Anderson Cancer Center tumor registry and 7-day point prevalence abstinence at each follow-up. The main analytical sample consisted of 4526 currently smoking patients diagnosed with cancer and receiving cessation treatment (2254 [49.8%] female; median [IQR] age, 55 [47-62] years). Survival over 15 years increased for those quitting smoking at 3 months (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.75 [95% CI, 0.67-0.83]), 6 months (aHR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.71-0.88]), and 9 months (aHR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.76-0.95]) of follow-up. The optimal survival outcomes were observed for patients who received tobacco treatment within 6 months of a cancer diagnosis. At the 75th percentile, their survival increased from 2.1 years (95% CI, 1.8-2.4 years) among continuing smokers (nonabstainers) vs 3.9 years (95% CI, 3.2-4.6 years) for patients who quit (abstainers). Similar but less pronounced outcomes were noted when tobacco treatment began within 6 months to 5 years following diagnosis, with survival at the 75th percentile of 4.8 years (95% CI, 4.3-5.3 years) for nonabstainers vs 6.0 years (95% CI, 5.1-7.2 years) for abstainers. The results of this prospective cohort study suggest that evidence-based smoking cessation treatment within 6 months following a cancer diagnosis maximizes survival benefit. This study supports smoking cessation as an important early clinical intervention for patients after being diagnosed with cancer.

Evaluating the Impact of a Game (Inner Dragon) on User Engagement Within a Leading Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Smartphone apps are a convenient, low-cost approach to delivering smoking cessation support to large numbers of individuals. Yet, the apps are susceptible to low rates of user engagement and retention. This study aims to test the effects of a new game module (called Inner Dragon) integrated into Smoke Free (23 Limited), a leading smoking cessation app with established efficacy. The primary outcomes measured user engagement with the app. A 2-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial was conducted in the United States with an 8-week follow-up. Adult individuals who smoked ≥1 cigarettes daily and planned to quit smoking within 7 days were recruited and randomized (N=500), with equal allocation. Both groups received free access to the original Smoke Free app with "core" features of its smoking cessation program (eg, a diary and craving log). The treated group received additional access to the integrated Inner Dragon game that incorporated several game mechanics designed to increase user engagement. User engagement outcomes were the number of unique app sessions, average minutes per session, days with a session, and program adherence. Self-reported and verified smoking abstinence and app satisfaction were also assessed. The main analysis estimated the intention-to-treat effect of access to Inner Dragon on each outcome. Further analyses assessed effect modification by participant characteristics and the association of intensity of game use with program adherence and abstinence. Overall, user engagement was greater for treated versus control participants: they had 5.3 more sessions of Smoke Free (mean 29.6, SD 36.5 sessions vs mean 24.3, SD 37.9 sessions; P=.06), 0.8 more minutes per session (mean 6.9, SD 5.4 min vs mean 6.1, SD 5.2 min; P=.047), and 3.4 more days with a session (mean 14.3, SD 15.3 days vs mean 11.9, SD 14.3 days; P=.03). Program adherence, based on the number of times core features of the original Smoke Free app were used, was higher for treated versus control participants (mean 29.4, SD 41.3 times vs mean 22.6, SD 35.6 times; P=.03). Self-reported 7-day and 30-day point-prevalence abstinence and verified 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 8 weeks did not significantly differ by study group. The mean repeated 1-day prevalence of quitting was higher among the treated group versus the control group (mean 17.3%, SD 25.6 vs mean 12.4%, SD 21.3; P=.01). App satisfaction and the motivation to (stay) quit did not differ by study group. Higher intensity of game use was associated with increased program adherence and self-reported abstinence. Findings suggest that the Inner Dragon game increased user engagement and program adherence. Additional refinements to the game design may clarify whether the game increases abstinence rates. Overall, it is feasible to deploy games and gamification to enhance user engagement in existing smoking cessation interventions. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05227027; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05227027.

Initial Evaluation of Acceptability, Engagement, and Effectiveness of the MO App to Provide Tailored and Comprehensive Support for Smoking Cessation: Development and Usability Study.

Despite the growing availability of smoking cessation apps, low engagement and cessation rates have remained a significant challenge. To address this issue, we used a user-centered design to iteratively develop a mobile app (MO) to provide comprehensive, tailored, and evidence-based content to support smokers in their quitting journey. This study examined the acceptability, use, and preliminary efficacy of the MO app for smoking cessation. Specifically, we sought to understand smokers' preferred features, engagement, and satisfaction with MO; identify concerns in using the app and ways to improve the app; and evaluate its smoking cessation outcomes. Through 3 cohorts, we recruited 10, 12, and 85 adult smokers who attempted to quit smoking to pilot-test the MO app between December 2019 and July 2022. Participants were instructed to complete a baseline survey, interact with the app for 6 weeks, and fill in a postsurvey at week 6. Participants in cohort 3 completed an additional postsurvey at week 12. Participants' app use was tracked and analyzed. The primary outcome measures were participants' 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 6 and 12 weeks. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the MO app across all 3 cohorts, rating it between 4.40 and 4.76 on a scale of 5 for acceptability. Users engaged with app activities for an average of 89 to 159 times over 35 days. The most liked features of the app included "quit plan," "tracking," "reminders and notifications," "MOtalks," and "motivational quotes." The 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate of the modified intention to treat population in cohort 3 was 58% at 6 weeks and 52% at 12 weeks. Those who interacted more frequently with app features and engaged with more diverse activities were more likely to maintain abstinence at weeks 6 and 12. For each additional time logged into the app, the odds of staying abstinent at week 12 increased by 5% (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.08). Participants who earned >5000 points during app use also had higher odds of quitting at both 6 weeks (OR 3.12, 95% CI 1.25-7.75) and 12 weeks (OR 4.65, 95% CI 1.83-11.76), compared with those who earned <5000 points. Our study demonstrated that MO is a feasible mobile phone app with high acceptability and usability and can effectively deliver smoking cessation support to individuals who want to quit. Implications for developing and evaluating mobile phone apps for smoking cessation are discussed.

Long-Term Effectiveness of a Quitline for Smoking Cessation: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Plain Language SummarySmoking is a major global health problem, causing many preventable deaths and disabilities each year. Telephone counselling is a recommended method to help people quit smoking because it provides accessible support. This study examined the long-term effectiveness of the national German Smokers Quitline. Daily smokers who wanted to quit smoking were divided into two groups. One group received up to six phone calls from the national German Smokers Quitline, the other group received a self-help brochure. We measured how many participants stopped smoking for at least 7 days 12 months after the start of the intervention (7-day point prevalence of abstinence). We assessed long-term cigarette and tobacco abstinence, i.e., how many participants abstained from cigarettes/tobacco for a period of 9 months after the start of the intervention. We also examined the use of other cessation aids. A total of 905 participants took part in the study. The telephone counselling group had higher rates of long-term cigarette (31.7% vs. 17.8%) and tobacco abstinence (30.8% vs. 15.2%) compared to the other group. The odds of quitting were significantly higher in the telephone counselling group. However, the 7-day point prevalence of abstinence did not differ between the groups. Many participants used additional cessation aids, with e-cigarettes being the most common. In conclusion, telephone counselling provided by the national German Smokers Quitline is effective in helping people quit smoking long term. Increasing its awareness could improve smoking cessation rates in Germany. Counselling should include information about the risks and benefits of new nicotine consumer products.

Behavioral interventions for tobacco use in HIV-infected smokers: systematic review and pairwise, network meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Smoking among persons living with HIV infection (PLWH) is estimated to be 2-3 times greater than that in the general population. Data suggest that cigarette smoking is more common among PLWH because of several factors, including lower socioeconomic status, previous, or concurrent illicit drug and alcohol use, younger age, lower education level, and concomitant depressive symptoms. Cigarette smoking among PLWH has been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers and infections as well as lowered response to antiretroviral therapy. Randomized controlled trials on behavioral interventions for tobacco use among smokers with HIV were searched in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. The retrieval period was from the inception of databases to November 2023. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using the Stata 18.0 software with 19 studies (3190 subjects), of which 15 reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence and seven of which reported continuous abstinence. The NMA results showed that compared with general advice plus self-help brochure, text messaging (relative risk [RR] = 4.60, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-18.81) and cell phone counseling (RR = 3.29, 95% CI, 1.71-6.32) were the most effective for 7-day point prevalence abstinence among smokers with HIV infection. Moreover, the meta-analysis showed that compared with smoking counseling and self-help brochures, continuous abstinence was statistically significantly enhanced after behavioral interventions (RR = 2.52, 95% CI, 1.51-4.20). The study revealed very low-to-high-quality evidence that text messaging, telephone counseling, and smoking cessation websites were effective for smokers with HIV infection.

Testing the effectiveness of a virtual sustained tobacco treatment: Initial reporting of findings from the EAQ171CD randomized clinical trial conducted by ECOG-ACRIN within the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

376 Background: Persistent smoking among patients diagnosed with cancer is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, yet clinical guidelines for tobacco use interventions have not been integrated into community oncology settings. We conducted a trial of a virtual sustained tobacco treatment intervention across community oncology settings nationally. Methods: This randomized clinical trial, conducted through ECOG-ACRIN, compared the effectiveness of sustained telehealth counseling plus medication (Virtual Sustained Treatment; VST) to referral to the NCI quitline (Enhanced Usual Care; EUC) in assisting recently diagnosed cancer patients to quit smoking. The VST group received up to 11 synchronous telehealth sessions (4 weekly, 4 biweekly, 3 monthly) of motivational counseling and up to 12-weeks of free NRT patch and/or lozenge. Eligibility criteria included adults within 4 months of a new cancer diagnosis, cigarette use in the past 30 days, English/Spanish speaking, and access to an internet-enabled device. The primary outcome is 6-month self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Results: From 08/2019 to 12/2022, 306 patients were randomized from 30 NCORP Community Sites and 7 Minority/Underserved NCORP sites. Participants were 70.9% female; 86.3% White; 8.8% Black; and 2.9% Hispanic; median age 57 years; 25.5% completed a college degree; 50.3% stages 0-2; 46.4% had non-smoking-related tumors. Median cigarettes per day was 12.0; 72.2% (n = 221/306) smoked within 30 minutes of waking; 49.0% (n = 150/306) were in precontemplation/contemplation stage of readiness to quit. 73.8% (222/301) and 72.2% (210/291) completed the 3 and 6-month outcome assessments. Classifying missing smoking status as smokers, 6-month abstinence rates were 28.4% (42/148) in the VST group vs. 14.7% (21/143) in the EUC group (p&lt;.005). For secondary outcomes, there were no significant differences when adjusted for multiple comparisons (α = 0.0025); abstinence at 3-months was 24.7% (38/154) in the VST group vs. 15.0% (22/147) in the EUC group (p=.035); continuous abstinence at 6 months was 18.9% (28/148) in the VST vs 9.1% (13/143) in the EUC (p=.016). 80.8% (126/156) of individuals randomized to VST participated in counseling; of those, 59.5% (75/126) completed at least 6 sessions, 46.0% (58/126) completed at least one monthly booster session, and 85.7% (108/126) were dispensed 4 weeks of NRT. Conclusions: Among recently diagnosed cancer patients, sustained remotely delivered telehealth counseling and free NRT produced a significantly higher 6-month quit rate than a quitline referral. Findings support adopting a policy of widespread sustained tobacco treatment and implementation of tobacco treatment into community oncology care settings nationwide. Clinical trial information: NCT03808818 .

A randomized controlled trial evaluation of a smoking cessation and physical activity intervention delivered via telemedicine in the Norton Sound region of Alaska

ObjectivesTobacco use disproportionately affects Alaska Native people. Physical activity may aid quitting smoking and provides health benefits. We tested telemedicine-delivered heart health interventions in Alaska’s Norton Sound region. MethodsAlaska Native adults (N = 299, 51.5 % male, 60.5 % Inupiaq) with hypertension and/or hypercholesterolemia who smoked daily were randomized to intervention on smoking and physical activity (group 1) or traditional diet and medication adherence (group 2). Intention to change was not required for participation. Stage-tailored mailed workbooks and personalized reports were supported by telehealth counseling at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Study outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-months (i.e., 6-months after the final counseling session). Smoking outcomes were self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (7d-PPA),11Abbreviations:7d-PPA: 7-day point prevalence abstinenceMET: Metabolic equivalent of taskMVPA: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activityNRT: Nicotine replacement therapy. bioconfirmed with urine anabasine; 24-hour quit attempts; and 50 % reduction in smoking. Self-reported physical activity outcomes were metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes and meeting moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines. ResultsAt baseline, participants averaged 12.4 (SD = 10.0) cigarettes/day, with 19.4 % prepared to quit smoking, and 81.6 % meeting MVPA guidelines. During the study, most (70.2 % group 1; 63.5 % group 2) reported a 24-hr quit attempt (p = 0.219), and Group 1 (53.6 %) was more likely than Group 2 (28.4 %) to use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), OR = 2.92, p < 0.001. At 18-months, 40.5 % (group 1) and 32.5 % (group 2) had reduced their smoking by half or more (p = 0.343), and 10.8 % vs. 7.9 % (group 1 vs. 2) reported 7d-PPA with 4 % vs. 6 % (group 1 vs. 2) bioconfirmed. Time and baseline stage of change predicted 7d-PPA (p’s≤.015), with no group effect (p = 0.325). Activity levels did not significantly differ by group or time. ConclusionsTelemedicine counseling supported NRT use but did not significantly affect behavioral outcomes.

Sex differences in cigarette smoking following a mindfulness-based cessation randomized controlled trial

Some interventions for smoking cessation such as quit smoking aids show sex-specific effects on outcomes, but behavioral interventions such as mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for smoking cessation lack formal reporting of sex-intervention tests of interaction to date. To address this gap, we conducted a secondary analysis of a RCT dataset (N = 213), recruiting participants from California, to statistically test a sex-intervention interaction effect on complete 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA), proportion of days abstinent, and daily cigarettes smoked. Smoking was assessed using the timeline follow back method spanning the four weeks following a daily 14-day app-based intervention and a planned smoking quit date immediately following the intervention phase. All models adjusted for baseline nicotine dependence. The study groups had comparable sex proportions (MBI: 56 % female; control: 55 % female) and the ratio of outcome assessment completion by group was not dependent on sex. Adjusted analyses revealed a significant sex-intervention interaction effect for daily cigarettes smoked ([female coded 1]: two-way interaction effect IRR = 0.59, 95 % CI: 0.46–0.77, p < 0.0001; effect for female: IRR = 0.68, 95 % CI: 0.57–0.81, effect for male: IRR = 1.14, 95 % CI: 0.95–1.37), but not for complete 7-day PPA ([female coded 1] two-way interaction effect OR = 1.24, 95 % CI: 0.31–4.89, p = 0.76) or proportion of total days abstinent ([female coded 1] two-way interaction effect OR = 1.97, 95 % CI: 0.53–7.37, p = 0.31). Females, but not males, allocated to a daily app-based MBI with a quit plan and quit aid workbook smoked fewer cigarettes per day compared to females in the control group. Males, but not females, showed significantly less use of the MBI app compared to the control app.

Abstract B019: A machine learning approach to predicting smoking cessation outcomes among Spanish-speaking smokers who completed a culturally targeted intervention

Abstract Introduction: Among the Hispanic/Latinx population in the US, four of five leading causes of death are attributed to smoking. Few evidence-based interventions have been developed to improve smoking cessation for this population. Our team has demonstrated the efficacy of a culturally targeted, extended self-help intervention for Spanish-speaking smokers, estimating a smoking abstinence rate of 33% at 24 months, compared to 24% for usual care. Further efforts are needed to enhance this efficacious, low-cost, scalable intervention approach. Machine learning (ML) is one approach to increase understanding of the predictors of treatment outcomes and inform strategies to improve the intervention. Toward that goal, this secondary data analysis utilized the decision tree (DT) model to predict self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 18-month follow-up for participants receiving our intervention. Method: Data from participants who reported smoking status at an 18-month follow-up (N=332 of 714 enrolled, 36% abstinent) were randomly split (80:20) into training and test datasets based on smoking status. We entered demographics, psychosocial, and smoking variables collected at baseline as predictors in the model. In addition to handling missing values and normalizing numeric features, we employed the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) combined with Tomek links (SMOTE-Tomek) to improve inter-class separability. Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) using DT was implemented to identify the most relevant predictors. The cross-validation (CV) pipeline incorporated preprocessing, feature selection, handling class-imbalance, over-sampling, and model training with a DT as the interpretable classifier. Hyperparameters were tuned using stratified K-fold (K=5) CV to optimize parameters using Grid search. F1 score was selected as the primary metric as it accounts for each class performance by combining the precision and recall metrics. Finally, the performance of the classifier was evaluated in 20% of the unseen dataset. Results: The DT classifier for the CV achieved the F1 score of 0.73 [95% CI 0.66, 0.77], revealing a reasonably good performance in identifying smokers at 18-months. RFE selected familism, age, affect, and confidence as the most relevant predictors of smoking status. Individuals who had lower familism scores (&amp;lt;138), combined with higher age (&amp;gt;50), were more likely to be smokers at 18 months. Individuals who had higher familism scores (&amp;gt;138) combined with higher negative affect (&amp;gt;42) were more likely to be smokers. Conclusion: This study provides the first step toward personalized care for smoking cessation among the Hispanic/Latinx population and demonstrates the potential of DT classifier to predict cessation outcomes among individuals who received and completed a culturally and linguistically targeted smoking cessation intervention. Our future analysis will compare this model with conventional statistical modeling approaches and other ML algorithms to identify the best-performing parsimonious model. Citation Format: Ranjita Poudel, K. Ruwani M. Fernando, Matthew B. Schabath, Steven K. Sutton, Thomas H. Brandon, Issam El Naqa, Vani N. Simmons. A machine learning approach to predicting smoking cessation outcomes among Spanish-speaking smokers who completed a culturally targeted intervention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B019.

Abstract B017: Kick Vaping: Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a vaping cessation text messaging intervention for Latino young adults

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of Kick Vaping among Latino young adults. Methods: Forty Latino young adults (ages 18 to 25) who were currently vaping received Kick Vaping, a vaping cessation text messaging intervention available in English and Spanish. Feasibility was measured by the eligibility rate (defined as the proportion of individuals screened who were eligible), enrollment rate (the proportion of eligible individuals who enrolled), and follow-up rate (the proportion of participants who completed the follow-up assessment at Month 3). Acceptability was measured by overall satisfaction with the intervention and perceived helpfulness. Preliminary impact was measured by self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (not vaping, even a single puff, in the past seven days) and changes in self-efficacy. Results: A total of 203 individuals were identified, 61 completed the eligibility assessment, and 55 were eligible to participate in the study. Forty individuals consented to participate in the study and enrolled in Kick Vaping. The eligibility and enrollment rates were 30.0% (61/203) and 72.7% (40/55), respectively. At baseline, participants’ mean age was 22.3 years old (SD 2.1), 45.0% of participants were female, and 45.0% were heterosexual or straight. Half of the participants had a high school education or less (50.0%) and were currently employed. Fourteen (35.0%) participants reported speaking English and Spanish equally. Most participants used disposable devices (70%), vaped daily (97.5%), had low (37.5%) or medium (35.0%) e-cigarette dependence, and had attempted to quit in the past year (72.5%). At Month 3, the follow-up rate was 90% (36/40). Treating those lost to follow-up as participants who continued vaping, 75% (30/40) of participants self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy mean scores significantly increased from 30.65 (SD 8.07) at baseline to 50.11 (SD 10.57) at follow-up (p&amp;lt;0.01). Moreover, most participants (88.9%, 32/36) reported being satisfied/extremely satisfied with Kick Vaping. Additionally, most participants (83.3%, 30/36) reported that the intervention included “just the right amount of messages”. Lastly, most participants (86.1%, 31/16) reported that Kick Vaping helped them quit vaping “a lot”. Conclusion: It is feasible to recruit and retain Latino young adults in a vaping cessation text messaging intervention. Moreover, Kick Vaping generated high satisfaction and perceived helpfulness among Latino young adults, significantly increased self-efficacy, and resulted in a notable vaping cessation rate at Month 3. Additional testing in a randomized clinical trial is warranted to assess the efficacy of the intervention. Citation Format: Rafael H. Orfin, Jeffrey Wilmer Ramos Santiago, Ritsel Decena Soriano, Eliany Romero Acosta, Diana Bermudez, Yaneth L. Rodriguez, Dongmei Li, Irfan Rahman, Scott McIntosh, Deborah J. Ossip, Ana Paula Cupertino, Francisco Cartujano-Barrera. Kick Vaping: Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a vaping cessation text messaging intervention for Latino young adults [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B017.

Do tobacco regulatory and economic factors influence smoking cessation outcomes? A post-hoc analysis of the multinational EAGLES randomised controlled trial

IntroductionWe previously reported global regional differences in smoking cessation outcomes, with smokers of US origin having lower quit rates than smokers from some other countries. This post-hoc analysis examined global...

Outcomes of a Comprehensive Mobile Vaping Cessation Program in Adults Who Vape Daily: Cohort Study.

In the United States, e-cigarettes, or vapes, are the second most-commonly used tobacco product. Despite abundant smartphone app-based cigarette cessation programs, there are few such programs for vaping and even less supporting data. This exploratory, prospective open-label, single-arm, remote, initial cohort study of the Pivot vaping cessation program assessed enrollment and questionnaire completion rates, participant engagement and retention, changes in attitudes toward quitting vaping, changes in vaping behavior, and participant feedback. The aim was to establish early data in each of these areas to inform program improvements and future study design. U.S. adults aged ≥ 21 years who vape daily, report ≥ 5 vape sessions per day, and plan to quit vaping in the next 6 months were recruited online. Participants completed an online screening form, screening call, electronic informed consent, registration, and onboarding before beginning Pivot. Data were self-reported via app and web-based questionnaires. Outcomes focused on engagement and retention (i.e., weeks in the program, number of Pivot app openings, number of messages sent to coach); vaping attitudes (i.e., success to quit, difficulty to stay quit); vaping behavior (i.e., quit attempts, Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index, 7- and 30-day point prevalence abstinence [PPA], continuous abstinence [defined as ≥ 7-day PPA at 12 weeks + 30-day PPA at 26 weeks + 0 vaping sessions since 12 weeks]); and participant feedback. Seventy-three participants completed onboarding (intention-to-treat [ITT] sample); 68/73 (93%) completed the 12- and 26-week questionnaires (completer samples). On average, participants were active in Pivot for 13.8 (SD 7.3) weeks, had 87.3 (SD 99.9) app sessions, and sent 37.6 (SD 42.3) messages to their coach over 26 weeks. Success to quit and difficulty to stay quit (scale 1-10) improved from baseline to 12 weeks: 4.9 (SD 2.9) to 7.0 (SD 3.0) and 4.0 (SD 2.8) to 6.2 (SD 3.1), respectively; both P < .001. Most participants (64/73, 88%) made ≥ 1 quit attempt. At 26 weeks, ITT 7-day PPA, 30-day PPA and continuous abstinence rates were: 35/73 (48%), 33/73 (45%), and 22/73 (30%), respectively. Thirty-three participants did not achieve 7-day PPA at 26 weeks; their mean Penn State Electronic Cigarette Dependence Index score decreased from baseline (13.9, SD 3.1) to 26 weeks (10.8, SD 4.5) (mean change -3.2, SD 3.9, P < .001); almost half (16/33, 48%) had improvement in e-cigarette dependence category. At 2 weeks, 51/71 (72%) reported using Pivot increased their motivation to quit vaping; at 4 weeks, 55/70 (79%) reported using Pivot decreased the amount they vape per day. In this first evaluation of Pivot in adult daily vapers, questionnaire completion rates were >90%, average program engagement duration was approximately 14 weeks and most participants reported increased motivation to quit vaping. These and early cessation outcomes herein suggest a role for Pivot in vaping cessation and will inform associated future study and program improvements. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05642598; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05642598.

A National Dental Practice-Based Research Network phase II, cluster-randomized clinical trial assessing nicotine replacement therapy sampling in dental settings: study protocol for the Free Samples for Health (FreSH) study

BackgroundCigarette smoking has major detrimental effects on oral health. Tobacco interventions in dental settings are effective, but rarely delivered. The American Dental Hygienists Association recommends that oral health providers: Ask patients about tobacco use, Advise quitting tobacco use, and Refer to state quitlines (Ask-Advise-Refer; AAR). While AAR connects patients to counseling, it does not directly connect patients to medication. Nicotine replacement therapy sampling (NRTS) is an empirically supported intervention to provide starter packs of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to people who smoke. NRTS combined with AAR could be an effective tobacco treatment intervention for dental settings.MethodsThis manuscript describes the study protocol for the Free Samples for Health (FreSH) study, a group randomized clinical trial testing the effectiveness of NRTS + AAR vs. AAR alone on long-term smoking abstinence. Fifty dental practices in the Midwest and Northeast nodes of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network are randomly assigned to provide AAR and either a 2-week supply of 14-mg nicotine patches and 4-mg nicotine lozenges (NRTS condition) or an electric toothbrush (ET condition). Approximately 1,200 patients who currently smoke—regardless of interest in quitting— are recruited during dental visits. Participants complete a baseline survey in-person, then after visit, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up surveys remotely. The primary outcome is carbon monoxide-confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence from combustible tobacco measured at 6 months post-enrollment. Secondary outcomes include: 24-h intentional quit attempts, change in cigarettes smoked per day, NRT utilization, attitudes toward NRT, intention to use NRT, and intention to quit smoking. A key informant process evaluation and cost effectiveness analysis will provide information for future implementation of NRTS.DiscussionThis is the first clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of NRTS on promoting smoking cessation in dental settings. If effective, this treatment could be implemented to increase the provision of smoking cessation interventions in dental settings to provide an additional treatment access point for people who smoke.Trial Registration.Registered at ClincalTrials.gov (NCT05627596) on 11/25/2022.

Kick Vaping: Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a vaping cessation text messaging intervention for Latino young adults

Objective To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of Kick Vaping among Latino young adults. Methods Forty Latino young adults (ages 18 to 25) who were currently vaping received Kick Vaping, a vaping cessation text messaging intervention available in English and Spanish. Feasibility was measured by the eligibility, enrollment, and follow-up rates. Acceptability was measured by overall satisfaction with the intervention. Preliminary impact was measured by self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence and changes in self-efficacy. Results Two hundred three individuals were identified, 61 were assessed for eligibility, and 55 were eligible. Forty individuals consented to participate and were enrolled in Kick Vaping. At baseline, most participants used disposable devices (70%), vaped daily (97.5%), had low (37.5%) or medium (35.0%) e-cigarette dependence, and had attempted to quit in the past year (72.5%). At Month 3, the follow-up rate was 90% (36/40). Treating those lost to follow-up as participants who continued vaping, 75% (30/40) of participants self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy mean scores significantly increased from 30.65 (SD 8.07) at baseline to 50.11 (SD 10.57) at follow-up (p < 0.01). Most participants (88.9%, 32/36) reported being satisfied/extremely satisfied with Kick Vaping. Conclusion It is feasible to recruit and retain Latino young adults in a vaping cessation text messaging intervention. Kick Vaping generated high satisfaction among Latino young adults, significantly increased self-efficacy, and resulted in a notable vaping cessation rate at Month 3. Additional testing in a randomized controlled trial is warranted to assess the efficacy of the intervention.

Cannabis Use and Subsequent CIGARETTE Discontinuation among U.S. Adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, Waves 1-5.

This study examined the association between current co-use of cannabis and cigarettes in the past 30 days, and subsequent cigarette discontinuation (past 30-day point prevalence abstinence) among U.S. adults with established cigarette use in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Additionally, we investigated the impact of co-use on the subsequent discontinuation of all combustible tobacco products. A total of 26,381 observations contributed by 8,218 adults with established cigarette use (i.e., smoked ≥ 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, and currently smoking cigarettes every day or some days) from Waves 1-5 of the PATH Study were included in the analysis. Weighted Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models were used to evaluate the association between current co-use at baseline (Waves 1-4) with the outcomes assessed at the subsequent wave (cigarette and combustible tobacco discontinuation at Waves 2-5). Final models included: demographic characteristics (age, sex, race and ethnicity, educational attainment), behavior characteristics (intention to quit, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, substance use problems), and wave-pair. Over one-third (35.91%) of cigarette users self-reported co-use during the study period. Cannabis use among adults with established cigarette use increased over time. Co-use was associated with a decreased odds of cigarette smoking discontinuation at follow-up, after adjusting for covariates (aOR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.93; p=0.0018). Similar effect sizes were observed for discontinuation of all combustible tobacco products (aOR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.86; p<.0001). Cannabis use among adults who smoke cigarettes was inversely related to subsequent cigarette discontinuation, suggesting that co-use may reduce likelihood of successful tobacco cessation. Findings demonstrate that cannabis use may lead to lower odds of discontinuation among adults with established cigarette use; therefore, individuals that co-use cigarettes and cannabis may need additional tobacco cessation support. Notably, this study observed an increase in co-use of cigarettes and cannabis, emphasizing the need for researchers and public health programs to shift their focus towards understanding and addressing concurrent substance use among adults who smoke cigarettes.

A randomised trial of real-time video counselling for smoking cessation among rural and remote residents.

Despite its reach, very limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of real-time video counselling for smoking cessation (e.g. via Skype). This study compared the effectiveness of real-time video counselling for smoking cessation to (a) telephone counselling; and (b) a control among rural and remote residents. Between 25 May 2017 and 3 March 2020, a three-arm, parallel group, randomised trial, randomised 1244 rural and remote residents from New South Wales, Australia who smoked tobacco to: video counselling (4-6 video sessions); telephone counselling (4-6 telephone calls); or a control (printed materials). The primary outcome was 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 13 months post-baseline. Secondary outcomes were point prevalence abstinence at 4 months and 7-months post-baseline, prolonged abstinence, quit attempts, anxiety and depression. For the primary outcome of 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 13 months post-baseline, there was no significant difference between video counselling and telephone counselling (14.6% vs 13.3%; (OR = 1.11, 95% CI (0.75-1.64), P = 0.61) or video counselling and control (14.6% vs 13.9%; (OR = 1.06, 95% CI (0.71-1.57), P = 0.77). For secondary outcomes at 4 months post-baseline, the video counselling group had significantly higher odds than the control of 7-day point prevalence abstinence (14.3% vs 8.2%; OR = 1.88, 95% CI (1.20-2.95), P = 0.006) and 3-month prolonged abstinence (4.9% vs 2.2%; OR = 2.28, 95% CI (1.03-5.07), P = 0.04). There were no significant differences for other secondary outcomes. Video counselling increased smoking cessation in the short-term compared to a control although strategies to improve its long-term effectiveness are needed. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, https://www.anzctr.org.au ACTRN12617000514303.

A Vaping Cessation Text Message Program for Adolescent E-Cigarette Users

E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among adolescents. Despite known harms of nicotine exposure among teens, there are no empirically tested vaping cessation interventions. To compare the effectiveness of a text message program for nicotine vaping cessation among adolescents with assessment-only control. A parallel, 2-group, double-blind, individually randomized clinical trial with follow-ups at 1 and 7 months after randomization was conducted from October 1, 2021, to October 18, 2023. Participants were recruited via social media ads; the intervention was delivered via text message; and assessments were completed online or by telephone. Eligible individuals were US residents aged 13 to 17 years who reported past 30-day e-cigarette use, were interested in quitting within 30 days, and owned a mobile phone with an active text message plan. To optimize study retention, all participants received monthly assessments via text message about e-cigarette use. Assessment-only controls (n = 744) received only study retention text messages. Intervention participants (n = 759) also received an automated, interactive text message program for vaping cessation that delivers cognitive and behavioral coping skills training and social support. The primary outcome was self-reported 30-day point-prevalence abstinence from vaping at 7 months analyzed as intention-to-treat, with missingness coded as vaping. Among n = 1503 adolescents randomized, average age was 16.4 (SD, 0.8) years. The sample was 50.6% female, 42.1% male, and 7.4% nonbinary/other; 10.2% Black/African American, 62.6% White, 18.5% multiracial, and 8.7% another race; 16.2% Hispanic; 42.5% sexual minority; and 76.2% vaped within 30 minutes of waking. The 7-month follow-up rate was 70.8%. Point-prevalence abstinence rates were 37.8% (95% CI, 34.4%-41.3%) among intervention participants and 28.0% (95% CI, 24.9%-31.3%) among control participants (relative risk, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.17-1.57]; P < .001). No baseline variables moderated the treatment-outcome relationship. There was no evidence that adolescents who quit vaping transitioned to combustible tobacco products. A tailored, interactive text message intervention increased self-reported vaping cessation rates among adolescents recruited via social media channels. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04919590.

Smartphone-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention (OKquit) for Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline Users: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tobacco quitlines provide effective resources (eg, nicotine replacement therapy, smoking cessation counseling, and text and web-based support) for those who want to quit smoking in the United States. However, quitlines reach approximately only 1%-3% of people who smoke each year. Novel, smartphone-based, and low-burden interventions that offer 24/7 access to smoking cessation resources that are tailored to current readiness to quit may increase appeal, reach, and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions. This study will examine the efficacy of OKquit, a low-burden smartphone-based app for smoking cessation. Approximately 500 people who smoke cigarettes and access the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline (OTH) will be randomized to receive standard OTH care (SC) or SC plus the novel OKquit smartphone app for smoking cessation (OKquit). All participants will use a smartphone app to complete study surveys (ie, baseline, 27 weekly surveys, brief daily check-ins, and 27-week follow-up). Upon completion of daily check-ins and weekly surveys, participants will receive either trivia type messages (SC) or messages that are tailored to current readiness to quit smoking and currently experienced lapse triggers (OKquit). In addition, those assigned to receive the OKquit app will have access to on-demand smoking cessation content (eg, quit tips, smoking cessation medication tips). It is hypothesized that participants assigned to OKquit will be more likely to achieve biochemically verified 7-day point prevalence abstinence than those assigned to SC at 27 weeks post enrollment. In addition, participants who use more OTH resources (eg, more cessation coaching sessions completed) or more OKquit resources (eg, access more quit tips) will have greater biochemically verified smoking cessation rates. Data collection began in September 2022 and final follow-ups are expected to be completed by May 2025. Data from this randomized controlled trial will determine whether the OKquit smartphone app combined with OTH care will increase smoking cessation rates over standard OTH care alone. If successful, OKquit could provide tailored intervention content at a fraction of the cost of traditional interventions. Furthermore, this type of low-burden intervention may offer a way to reach underserved populations of adults who smoke and want to quit. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05539209; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05539209. DERR1-10.2196/56827.

Mobile Phone–Based Personalized and Interactive Augmented Reality Pictorial Health Warnings for Enhancing a Brief Advice Model for Smoking Cessation: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Augmented reality (AR) is a novel modality for promoting smoking cessation (SC). AR-visualized adverse consequences for education and smoking prevention have only been evaluated in nonsmokers in previous studies. Objective To assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness for SC of AR pictorial health warnings (PHWs) on cigarette packs. Methods We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial in adult daily smokers in communities in Hong Kong. All participants received AWARD (ask, warn, advise, referral, do-it-again) model–guided SC advice, a warning leaflet, and referral to SC services at baseline. Interactive, chat-based SC support comprising regular messages and real-time support was provided to all participants via instant messaging apps (eg, WhatsApp) for 3 months after randomization. Participants in the intervention group additionally received 6 links to the AR PHWs showing the worsening health status of various organs caused by smoking. The level of the AR PHWs was adjustable to smoking behaviors (ie, smoking duration or daily cigarette consumption) to increase interaction. Participants could swipe, drag, or rotate the 3D PHWs to reinforce their impression of the health consequences of smoking. The primary outcome was self-reported past 7-day point-prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 3 months. The acceptability of the AR intervention was assessed by the proportion of participants who had viewed AR PHWs during the intervention. Participants who viewed AR PHWs further evaluated the perceived effect of the AR PHWs on a scale of 0 (not helpful at all) to 10 (very helpful). Intention to treat was used, and the risk ratio (RR) of the intervention effect was estimated by Poisson regression. Results From April to November 2021, 80 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to intervention (n=40) and control (n=40) groups. Most participants were male (66/80, 83%) and planned to quit beyond 30 days or were undecided (65/80, 81%). The intervention group had a higher but nonsignificant 7-day PPA (7/40, 18% vs 5/40, 13%; RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.48-4.07) and quit attempts (15/40, 38% vs 11/40, 28%; RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.71-2.60) at 3 months than the control group. In the intervention group, 17 of 40 (43%) participants viewed the AR PHWs. The AR PHWs had modest effects on knowledge of the adverse consequences of smoking on personal health (mean score 3.94, SD 3.52), reducing the frequency of buying cigarettes (mean score 3.29, SD 3.08), increasing the perceived importance of quitting (mean score 3.88, SD 3.50), and making the PHWs more disgusting (mean score 3.41, SD 3.08) and horrible (mean score 3.38, SD 3.05). The 3-month self-reported 7-day PPA was higher in those who ever (vs never) viewed the AR PHWs (5/17, 29% vs 2/23, 9%). Conclusions The mobile-based interactive AR PHWs were feasible, and the effectiveness on smoking abstinence warrants further testing. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04830072; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04830072

Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a Social Media-Based Peer-Group Mobile Messaging Smoking Cessation Intervention Among Chinese Immigrants who Smoke: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chinese immigrants experience significant disparities in tobacco use. Culturally adapted tobacco treatments targeting this population are sparse and the use is low. The low use of these treatment programs is attributed to their exclusive focus on individuals who are ready to quit and the wide range of barriers that Chinese immigrants face to access these programs. To support Chinese immigrant smokers at all levels of readiness to quit and address their access barriers, we developed the WeChat Quit Coach, a culturally and linguistically appropriate WeChat (Tencent Holdings Limited)-based peer group mobile messaging smoking cessation intervention. This study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of WeChat Quit Coach. We enrolled a total of 60 Chinese immigrant smokers in 2022 in New York City for a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) and a single-arm pilot test. The first 40 participants were randomized to either the intervention arm (WeChat Quit Coach) or the control arm (self-help print material) using 1:1 block randomization stratified by sex. WeChat Quit Coach lasted 6 weeks, featuring small peer groups moderated by a coach, daily text messages with text questions, and chat-based instant messaging support from the coach in response to peer questions. The next 20 participants were enrolled in the single-arm pilot test to further assess intervention feasibility and acceptability. All 60 participants were offered a 4-week supply of complimentary nicotine replacement therapy. Surveys were administered at baseline and 6 weeks, with participants in the pilot RCT completing an additional survey at 6 months and biochemical verification of abstinence at both follow-ups. Of 74 individuals screened, 68 (92%) were eligible and 60 (88%) were enrolled. The majority of participants, with a mean age of 42.5 (SD 13.8) years, were male (49/60, 82%) and not ready to quit, with 70% (42/60) in the precontemplation or contemplation stage at the time of enrollment. The pilot RCT had follow-up rates of 98% (39/40) at 6 weeks and 93% (37/40) at 6 months, while the single-arm test achieved 100% follow-up at 6 weeks. On average, participants responded to daily text questions for 25.1 days over the 42-day intervention period and 23% (9/40) used the chat-based instant messaging support. Most participants were satisfied with WeChat Quit Coach (36/39, 92%) and would recommend it to others (32/39, 82%). At 6 months, self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates were 25% (5/20) in the intervention arm and 15% (3/20) in the control arm, with biochemically verified abstinence rates of 25% (5/20) and 5% (1/20), respectively. WeChat Quit Coach was feasible and well-received by Chinese immigrants who smoke and produced promising effects on abstinence. Large trials are warranted to assess its efficacy in promoting abstinence in this underserved population. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05130788; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05130788.