Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere (ESCAPE)

May 19, 2026 updated by: Lorra Garey, University of Houston

A National Test of a Culturally Tailored Smartphone-based Smoking Cessation and Mental Health Intervention for Black Adults With HIV

The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of an mHealth smoking cessation and HIV disease management intervention among a nationally representative sample of African America/Black (hereafter refer to as Black) persons with HIV/AIDS (PWH) who smoke cigarettes. Participants will be randomized into one of three conditions: (1) the intervention, ESCAPE (Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere) + Nicotine Replacement Medications (NRT), (2) the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) quitSTART app, the standard mobile smoking cessation treatment + NRT, and (3) an assessment-only control group + NRT.

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

This nationwide trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a smartphone-based smoking cessation and HIV care management intervention culturally tailored for Black PWH who smoke cigarettes with treated and untreated HIV.A RCT will be conducted with 300 Black PWH who smoke cigarettes to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to the smartphone-based ESCAPE intervention + NRT, the National Cancer Institute's smartphone-based quitSTART intervention + NRT, or assessment-only control + NRT. Participants will complete a self-screener, baseline appointment, 8 weeks of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), 8 weekly follow-up assessments, 10 monthly check-in surveys, a 28-week follow-up, and a final 54-week follow-up. A subset of participants will also be selected to complete a qualitative interview at the end of their 6th week in the study.

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.
300

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.
  • Phase 2

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 Contact Backup

Study Locations

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

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Identify as Black/African American
  • Living with HIV
  • Biochemical verification of self-reported smoking status following minimum study specified smoking rate endorsement
  • Motivated to quit smoking
  • Must be ready to quit cigarettes within 14 days of full enrollment
  • Moderate or higher anxiety sensitivity OR elevated anxiety OR depression
  • Must be willing to download a mobile app onto their personal phone
  • Must be willing to use NRT
  • Possess an Android/Apple smartphone that is compatible with the mobile app
  • Demonstrate 7th grade level proficiency in English (≥4 on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form [REALM-SF])
  • Valid proof of identification (photo of valid US ID)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Legal situations which may interfere with study participation
  • Not being fluent in English
  • High blood pressure that is not under control
  • Having experienced a heart attack within the past 2 weeks
  • Pregnant of planning to become pregnant within the next six months

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.
Experimental: ESCAPE intervention + NRT
ESCAPE is a mobile intervention that targets anxiety sensitivity among Black adults who smoke cigarettes and have HIV. This intervention is framed within the cultural context of interoceptive stress among Black adults who smoke, which is supported by theory, empirical evidence, and characteristics of this group. The intervention employs a variety of features to educate users on how to deal with stress, anxiety, and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The app contains a series of on-demand features, including a coping toolkit, stress management trainings, and a series of educational videos. ESCAPE also utilizes Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to gather information and provide personalized messages to users in real time. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Behavioral: ESCAPE app + NRT
ESCAPE is a mobile intervention that targets anxiety sensitivity among Black adults who smoke cigarettes and have HIV. This intervention is framed within the cultural context of interoceptive stress among Black adults who smoke, which is supported by theory, empirical evidence, and characteristics of this group. The intervention employs a variety of features to educate users on how to deal with stress, anxiety, and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The app contains a series of on-demand features, including a coping toolkit, stress management trainings, and a series of educational videos. ESCAPE also utilizes Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to gather information and provide personalized messages to users in real time. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Active Comparator: quitSTART intervention + NRT
quitSTART is a smartphone-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) intervention for standard mobile smoking cessation treatment. The intervention contains features that allow its' users to better understand their smoking patterns, and build skills needed to become and stay smoke free. The app allows users to track cravings and delivers motivational messages to users for each craving they track. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Behavioral: quiSTART app + NRT
quitSTART is a smartphone-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) intervention for standard mobile smoking cessation treatment. The intervention contains features that allow its' users to better understand their smoking patterns, and build skills needed to become and stay smoke free. The app allows users to track cravings and delivers motivational messages to users for each craving they track. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Sham Comparator: Control (CTRL) + NRT
The CTRL group will complete the same baseline survey, follow-up surveys, and ecological momentary assessments schedule as the ESCAPE app + NRT and the quitSTART app + NRT group. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They will not receive additional intervention content.
Behavioral: Control (CTRL)
The CTRL group will complete the same baseline survey, follow-up surveys, and ecological momentary assessments schedule as the ESCAPE app + NRT and the quitSTART app + NRT group. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They will not receive additional intervention content.

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
Anxiety
Time Frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week)
Anxiety will be evaluated via Overall Anxiety Severity Index Scale (OASIS).
Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week)
Depression
Time Frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week).
Depression will be evaluated via the Overall Depression Severity Index Scale (ODSIS).
Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week).
7-day Biochemically Verified Point Prevalence Abstinence (PPA)
Time Frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week).
PPA will be defined as no cigarette smoking within the past 7 days, and will be biochemically verified via assessment of expired carbon monoxide (< 6 ppm).
Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week).
HIV (and general) Quality of Life
Time Frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of every assessment containing these survey items (weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week follow-ups)
HIV (and general) quality of life will be evaluated using the the World Health Organization HIV Quality of Life Brief Scale and the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L).
Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of every assessment containing these survey items (weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week follow-ups)
HIV Care Adherence/Engagement
Time Frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of every assessment containing these survey items (weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week follow-ups)
HIV-related outcomes will be evaluated using the dichotomous variables (e.g., ART medication non-adherence and missed treatment appointments).
Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of every assessment containing these survey items (weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week follow-ups)

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
Anxiety Sensitivity Reduction
Time Frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week)
Anxiety sensitivity will be evaluated using the Short Scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index (SSASI).
Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week)

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 Houston

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of Oklahoma

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: Michael S. Businelle, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma Health Sciences

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.
June 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.
June 30, 2029

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.
June 30, 2029

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).
May 5, 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.
June 9, 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.
June 17, 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.
May 20, 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.
May 19, 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.
May 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.
  • STUDY00004985

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified participant data will be uploaded to the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

1 year from completion of aims of the project (i.e., publication of the main outcome paper)

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

The data can be accessed by researchers who request access to the data and complete a Data use Certification (DUC), certifying that have a research need related to the data.

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.

Clinical Trials on ESCAPE Intervention+NRT

Clinical Trials on ESCAPE app + NRT

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

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