Electronic Cigarettes as a Harm Reduction Strategy Among People Living With HIV/AIDS

December 18, 2024 updated by: NYU Langone Health
This is a research study to understand and determine the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes versus nicotine replacement therapy in adults who smoke and also live with HIV/AIDS in effort to reduce cigarette smoking.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are known to have exceptionally higher rate of cigarette smoking and very low quit rates compared to the general population. Although a primary rationale for conducting this study is reducing health disparities among PLWHA, there is a potential benefit of the proposed work from a prevention perspective given that combustible cigarette smoking is an independent risk factor for non-adherence to ART and may decrease the effectiveness of HAART. Smoking-related illnesses are leading causes of non-HIV/AIDS-related deaths among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) could help people reduce the harm of combustible cigarette (CC) through reductions in number of Cigarettes per Day (CPD) or quitting CC completely by addressing both nicotine and behavioral dependence. Unlike CC, EC are not associated with coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction. The purpose is to identify barriers and facilitators, as well as assess preliminary effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy among PLWHA.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
64

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10016
        • NYU Langone Health

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Current Combustible Cigarette (CC) smokers (more than 5 packs in a lifetime; smokes 4 or more days/week),
  • Smokes at least 10 cigarettes per day on days they smoke CC.
  • Motivated to quit smoking (at least a 5 on a 10-point Likert scale).
  • Must be able to provide consent
  • Agree to be randomized and followed-up with,
  • Reside in New York City
  • Be willing to use an e-cigarette or NRT for 12 weeks.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Are pregnant (as determined by urine test) or breastfeeding (self-reported),
  • State diagnosis of any medical condition (angina/heart disease) precluding use of nicotine patch or gum, or by self-report in screening questionnaire
  • Reporting using NRTs or e-cigarettes or within the last 30 days
  • Have untreated/are undergoing current treatment for psychiatric illness or cognitive impairment at time of initial screening as determined by the subjects' primary care doctor or a licensed study team member in screening
  • Report a history of severe or untreated cardiopulmonary disease such as asthma or emphysema.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: counseling + nicotine replacement therapies NRT
A research assistant (RA) trained in motivational interviewing and qualitative methods will support the PI to deliver counseling sessions and conduct interviews. Briefly, during each visit, with help of the RA, participants will provide exhaled CO and saliva cotinine test, and complete surveys in REDCAP using a tablet, allowing programmed logic checks and skip patterns to minimize burden. The RA will also deliver brief motivational counseling tailored to the participant's readiness to quit and arm in the study (NRT). Participants will also receive their NRT to last them to the following visit based on their baseline smoking.
Other: Nicotine patch and gum
Nicotine patch and gum will be given to subjects in the Nicotine replacement therapy cohort every visit after providing exhaled CO/Saliva cotinine test.
Behavioral: Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS)
The MNWS assesses symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal (i.e., craving, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, increased appetite or weight gain, depression, and insomnia).
Behavioral: ASSIST (the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening)
The ASSIST is the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. It is a brief screening questionnaire to find out about people's use of psychoactive substances (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement).
Behavioral: Counseling
At each study visit, participants will receive counseling protocol that will be based on effective counseling manuals. The PI will train the research assistant who will assist the PI in tailoring the manual to the target group: counseling will cover health education, social support issues, and motivational enhancement to improve self-efficacy while addressing other aspects known to contribute to smoking among PLWHA (e.g., tips on dealing with depression and feeling stigmatized particularly in relation to HIV).
Active Comparator: Counseling + Standardized Research E-cigarettes (SREC)
Participants in the SREC arm to practice using the SREC and give them instructions to return with their SREC and used refill tanks on every visit. A research assistant (RA) trained in motivational interviewing and qualitative methods will support the PI to deliver counseling sessions and conduct interviews. Briefly, during each visit, with help of the RA, participants will provide exhaled CO and saliva cotinine test, and complete surveys in REDCAP using a tablet, allowing programmed logic checks and skip patterns to minimize burden. The RA will also deliver brief motivational counseling tailored to the participant's readiness to quit and arm in the study (SREC). Participants will also receive their SREC to last them to the following visit based on their baseline smoking.
Behavioral: Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS)
The MNWS assesses symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal (i.e., craving, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, increased appetite or weight gain, depression, and insomnia).
Behavioral: ASSIST (the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening)
The ASSIST is the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. It is a brief screening questionnaire to find out about people's use of psychoactive substances (alcohol, smoking and substance involvement).
Behavioral: Counseling
At each study visit, participants will receive counseling protocol that will be based on effective counseling manuals. The PI will train the research assistant who will assist the PI in tailoring the manual to the target group: counseling will cover health education, social support issues, and motivational enhancement to improve self-efficacy while addressing other aspects known to contribute to smoking among PLWHA (e.g., tips on dealing with depression and feeling stigmatized particularly in relation to HIV).
Other: NIDA Standardized Research E-cigarettes (SREC)
NIDA SREC has a case with a liquid tank. The e-liquid is supplied in sealed disposable cartridges that deliver >300 puffs / cartridge. The SREC uses a battery recharged via a micro USB port. A single charge is designed to outlast the capacity of an e-liquid cartridge. The e-liquid is "tobacco" flavored and contains nicotine.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Cigarettes per Day (CPD)
Time Frame: Visit 1 (week1), Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8), Visit 6 (week 12)
In the e-cigarette arm, participants will be encouraged to substitute SREC (15 mg/ml nicotine in tobacco flavor) for CC in order to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Smoking reduction will be measured by a combination of self-report, text message data and changes in CO and saliva cotinine between baseline and end of treatment.
Visit 1 (week1), Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8), Visit 6 (week 12)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Assessing differences in nicotine withdrawal symptoms
Time Frame: Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Will assess withdrawal symptoms of nicotine using the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS). The 9 item scale which assess withdrawal symptoms will be rated on a 5 point scale "not present", " slight", "mild", "moderate" and "severe" .
Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Assessing differences in E-cigarette dependency
Time Frame: Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Will assess withdrawal symptoms of E-cigarette dependency using potential side effects of NRT/SREC using the E-cigarette Dependence Index (SREC arm). 9 questions assess the experience with Electronic cigarettes to gauge how depend the subjects are on e-cigarettes (0 - 3 = not dependent, 4 - 8 low dependence, 9 - 12 medium dependence, 13+ = high dependence)
Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Assessing differences in nicotine use
Time Frame: Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Will assess withdrawal symptoms using smoking cessation self-efficacy using the Smoking Self-efficacy Questionnaire: SEQ-12. The 12 item questionnaire assess how people refrain form smoking in certain situations using a 5 point Likert scale (1=not at all sure, 2=not very sure, 3=more or less, 4=fairly sure, 5= absolutely sure).
Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Assessing differences in use of substance use
Time Frame: Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Will assess withdrawal symptoms using the acceptability through ASSIST screening tool (the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening). 8 questions asking about the experience of using substances across the subjects lifetime and in the past 3 months.
Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Assessing differences in side effects associated with e-cigarette use
Time Frame: Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)
Will assess withdrawal symptoms using the acceptability through self reporting questionnaire regarding demographics and tobacco use and other medications.
Visit 2 (Week 2), Visit 3 (Week 4), Visit 4 (Week 6), Visit 5 (Week 8)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
NYU Langone Health

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Omar El Shahawy, MD, NYU Langone

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 17, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 15, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 8, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 2, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 3, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 6, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 18, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 19-01179

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices).

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The investigator who proposed to use the data.Upon reasonable request. Requests should be directed to omar.elshahawy@nyulangone.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings