Therapeutic Contact Intensity in a Psychological Smoking Cessation Intervention With an App (TREATINTSMOKE)

April 27, 2026 updated by: Ana López Durán, University of Santiago de Compostela

Assessment of a Psychological Treatment for Smoking Cessation Combined With an App According to the Intensity of Therapeutic Contact: Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial intends to examine the efficacy of a smoking cessation intervention with an App according to the intensity of therapeutic contact. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups. The first group will receive eight sessions with trained psychologists alongside access to the App. The second group will receive four sessions with trained psychologists plus App access. The control group will only have access to the App. This study seeks to determine the impact of different levels of therapeutic contact on abstinence outcomes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is crucial to implement preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of people starting to smoke but also to make effective smoking cessation treatments available to those who smoke. Psychological interventions have proven to be effective to quit smoking and are considered first-choice interventions, especially for specific populations such as adolescents or pregnant women . The motivation behind this proposal is to improve the effectiveness of smoking cessation treatments based on our clinical and research experience in smoking cessation psychological interventions. Although we have very effective psychological treatments, producing abstinence rates of approximately 70% at the end of the treatment, and 35% at one year of follow-up to continue improving its effectiveness and reduce relapse rates is warranted. Furthermore, technological advances can help increase accessibility to available treatments and motivation to participate in smoking cessation interventions.

The main objective of this proposal is to assess the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for smoking cessation with new components (anhedonia and mood management, physical activity, and positive social support) according to the intensity of the therapeutic contact, through a randomized controlled trial. The treatment will be conducted through video call format to make it more accessible. The study will compare three groups that will receive treatments of varying intensity of therapeutic contact: 1) 8 intervention sessions + App (Experimental Group 1, EG1), 2) 4 intervention sessions + App (Experimental Group 2, G2), and 3) no therapeutic contact, App only (control group/CG). Our initial hypothesis is that the higher intensity intervention (EG1) will be more effective than EG2 and CG groups in abstinence outcomes at the end of the intervention and in reducing relapse rates for one year follow-up. The EG2 will be more effective than the CG in abstinence outcomes at the end of the intervention and in reducing relapse rates during one-year follow-up.

Digital treatment delivery formats will be used to increase treatment accessibility: 1) treatment sessions will be conducted through video calls which will remove geographical and time-related barriers. This format will be particularly useful for smokers experiencing barriers to access to treatment due to work/family schedules; 2) a smoking cessation App will be used to improve adherence and access to treatment components anytime, anywhere. Moreover, integrating technology into the treatment can facilitate participants intersessions tasks and support the work of professionals. Our previous experience with an App as a complement to the smoking cessation intervention showed excellent abstinence outcomes.

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 (Estimated)

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.
429

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.
  • Name: Ana López-Durán, Phd.
  • Phone Number: +34 881813774
  • Email: ana.lopez@usc.es

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • A Coruña
      • Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain, 15885
        • Smoking Cessation and Addictive Disorders Unit
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • aged 18 or over
  • wishing to participate in the treatment
  • providing written informed consent
  • smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day
  • completion of all pre-treatment assessment questionnaires
  • having a valid email address
  • having an Android or iOS smartphone and being willing to use it throughout the treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • a diagnosis of severe mental disorder (bipolar disorder and/or psychotic disorder)
  • concurrent substance use disorder (alcohol, cannabis, stimulant, hallucinogen and/or opioid)
  • using other tobacco products (electronic cigarette with nicotine, cigars or cigarillos)
  • having completed an effective psychological treatment to quit smoking during the previous year
  • having completed a pharmacological treatment to quit smoking in the last year (any smoking cessation medication approved by the Agencia Española del Medicamento)
  • having a physical pathology involving high vital risk that requires immediate intervention (e.g., recent myocardial infarction)
  • having visual difficulties that prevent the use of the App.

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: Single

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: 1. High-intensity therapeutic contact cognitive-behavioral treatment for smoking cessation with App
It will consist of an App and 8 one-hour sessions applied in group format once a week (8 weeks total duration). The sessions will be conducted by trained clinical psychology/general health psychology professionals and will be carried out using video calls.
Behavioral: 8-sessions CBT + App
It will consist of 8 one-hour sessions applied in group format once a week and participants will be followed at 3, 6, and 12 months. The sessions will be conducted by clinical psychology/general health psychology professionals and will be carried out using video calls. The smoking cessation treatment follows a cognitive-behavioral approach with components for anhedonia reduction, increased physical activity and positive social support, being a modified, multidisciplinary, and extended version of the original smoking cessation program (Becoña, 2007; Becoña et al., 2017). The treatment will be complemented with an App with active therapeutic components that participants will use during treatment and the one-year follow-up period.
Active Comparator: 2. Medium-intensity therapeutic contact CBT for smoking cessation with App
It will consist of an App and 4 one-hour sessions applied in group format every two-weeks (8 weeks total duration). The sessions will be conducted by trained clinical psychology/general health psychology professionals and will be carried out using video calls.
Behavioral: 4-sessions CBT+App
It will consist of 4 one-hour sessions applied in group format every two-weeks (8 weeks total duration) and participants will be followed at 3, 6, and 12 months. The sessions will be conducted by clinical psychology/general health psychology professionals and will be carried out using video calls. The 4 sessions will have the following content: 1) explanation of treatment rationale and components available in the App; 2) participants' progress monitoring, reinforcement of achieved goals, and analysis of difficulties; 3) cessation planning support; and 4) relapse prevention support. The treatment sessions will be protocolized in a treatment manual. The treatment will be complemented with the same App that the other conditions
Active Comparator: 3. App only (no therapeutic-contact group).
It will consist of the same App than participants assigned to Conditions 1 and 2, but without contact with professionals
Behavioral: Smoking cessation App
It will consist in the same App than the other two conditions. No therapeutic contact will be avaliable.

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
7-days point prevalence abstinence
Time Frame: At 12-months post-intervention
The abstinent status will be defined as not having smoked in the last 7 days (not even a puff)
At 12-months post-intervention

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
7-days point prevalence
Time Frame: At 3 and 6-months post-intervention
The abstinent status will be defined as not having smoked in the last 7 days (not even a puff)
At 3 and 6-months post-intervention
7-days point prevalence abstinence
Time Frame: At 7-days post-quit day
The abstinent status will be defined as not having smoked in the last 7 days (not even a puff)
At 7-days post-quit day
Satisfaction with the intervention
Time Frame: At 8-weeks after beginning the intervention
Scores obtained in Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8; Larsen et al., 19979; Spanish version of Vázquez et al., 2017)
At 8-weeks after beginning the intervention

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.
University of Santiago de Compostela

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: Ana López-Durán, Phd., University of Santiago de Compostela
  • Principal Investigator: Elisardo Becoña Iglesias, Phd., University of Santiago de Compostela

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Estimated)

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.
September 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
April 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
April 1, 2028

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).
March 21, 2025

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.
March 21, 2025

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.
March 28, 2025

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.
April 28, 2026

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.
April 27, 2026

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.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • PID2023-146663OB-I00

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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.

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