Quit Smoking Study for People Who Use E-Cigarettes

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Smoking Cessation Treatment for Young Adult Dual Users of Combustible and Electronic Cigarettes

The overarching aim of this proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to test nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with text message support for two smoking cessation approaches among young adult dual users of combustible cigarettes (CC) and electronic cigarettes (EC). The investigators will use a 2x2 factorial design to randomize 390 participants to receive A) NRT plus text messages to quit CCs only, B) NRT plus text messages to quit CCs and ECs simultaneously, C) text messages alone to quit CCs only, or D) text messages alone to quit CCs and ECs simultaneously. The investigators primary outcome will be 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at the end of treatment (i.e., 3 months after randomization). The investigators will recruit participants using national advertising strategies. All treatment will be provided remotely in order to increase treatment access and comply with current COVID-19 restrictions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nicotine Addiction; Quitting Smoking; E-Cig Use
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Nicotine replacement therapy patch; Drug: Nicotine replacement therapy lozenge; Behavioral: Continue electronic cigarettes; Behavioral: Quit electronic cigarettes

Detailed Description

The overarching aim of this proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to test nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with text message support for two smoking cessation approaches among young adult dual users of ombustible cigarettes (CC) and electronic cigarettes (EC). The investigators will use a 2x2 factorial design (Table 1) to randomize 390 participants to receive A) NRT plus text messages to quit CCs only, B) NRT plus text messages to quit CCs and ECs simultaneously, C) text messages alone to quit CCs only, or D) text messages alone to quit CCs and ECs simultaneously. The investigators' primary outcome will be 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at the end of treatment (i.e., 3 months after randomization). All treatment will be provided remotely in order to increase treatment access and comply with COVID-19 restrictions. The proposed RCT addresses the following specific aims:

Aim 1: To test whether NRT is an effective smoking cessation treatment for young adult dual users of ECs and CCs.

Aim 2: To identify the influence of continued EC use versus stopping ECs on achieving CC abstinence among young adult dual users of ECs and CCs.

Aim 3: To identify whether continued EC use results in more acute adverse events than stopping ECs among young adult dual users who are quitting CCs.

The investigators will recruit and consent 390 participants with the aim of retaining 312 (80%) by the end of treatment. Participants in each condition will complete a survey at baseline, weekly surveys throughout the 3-month treatment period, brief daily surveys for one week before and one week after the assigned quit date, an end of treatment survey, and a survey at a follow-up 6 months after treatment began. In addition, participants will provide breath CO samples at baseline, all weekly surveys, the end of treatment, and the 6-month follow-up using the CoVita iCO personal smokerlyzer (https://www.covita.net/ico-overview/).

All assessments will be remote and accessible by smartphone, tablet, or computer. After confirming eligibility and consenting to participate, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the four study groups and study personnel will mail a welcome package including study information, a CoVita iCO personal smokerlyzer device, and NRT (for groups A and B only). Upon receipt of the welcome package, participants will complete a brief baseline survey on the internet and provide a baseline breath CO sample using the CoVita iCO device and Vincere Health mobile application which is compatible with Mac iOS and Android operating systems for smartphones and tablets. The investigators will not ask participants to return their personal CoVita iCO Smokerlyzer. All participants will be free to keep their personal CoVita iCO Smokerlyzer after the conclusion of their participation.

All participants will complete brief daily surveys for two weeks: one week pre- and one week post-quit date. Participants will receive a daily text and/or email containing a link for the daily survey and will be able to complete the survey via internet on a smartphone, tablet or computer. Participants will report CC smoking, EC use, NRT use (groups A and B only), text message utilization, nicotine dependence, quit attempts, and adverse events on daily surveys (Table 2). At the conclusion of the 12-week treatment period, participants will complete an end of treatment survey to report CC smoking or EC use and withdrawal symptoms. Those still smoking will also report motivation to quit, nicotine dependence, and self-efficacy to quit. In addition, participants will provide another breath CO sample using their CoVita iCO device. The primary outcome for this RCT is CO confirmed 7-day point-prevalence abstinence from CCs at the end of treatment (i.e., at the 3-month follow-up). Per the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) report on biochemical verification, the investigators will use CO of < 6 parts per million (ppm) as the cutoff for confirming CC abstinence. The investigators will not contact participants for the 12 weeks following the treatment period. All participants will then complete a 6-month follow-up survey (i.e., 24 weeks after the baseline assessment) to report any CC smoking or EC use and withdrawal symptoms. Those who relapsed or continued to smoke CCs will also report motivation to quit, nicotine dependence, and self-efficacy to quit. In addition, all participants will provide a final breath CO sample using their CoVita iCO device.

Treatment. The consent form explains that a primary aim of this RCT is to test whether quitting versus continuing ECs is more effective when quitting CCs, and currently there is mixed evidence supporting both strategies. After randomization, all participants will receive information about the study including instructions to set a quit date and which product(s) to quit. Written instructions for the intervention will be provided and participants will also be asked to view a supplementary video presentation. The investigators will provide participants in groups A and C with instructions to quit CCs but continue using ECs with the rationale that ongoing use of ECs could help them abstain from CCs. Specifically, the investigators will instruct participants in groups A and C to use ECs in place of CCs to help cope with cravings or urges to smoke CCs. In contrast, participants randomized to conditions B and D will receive instructions to quit CCs and quit ECs with the rationale that quitting ECs could help them abstain from CCs. The investigators will instruct participants in groups B and D to abstain from vaping because ECs could trigger relapse to CCs. Participants in groups A and B will also receive instructions for how to use NRT.

Participants randomized to conditions A and B will be mailed 3 one-month supplies of dual 14 mg NRT patches and 4 mg mini-lozenge because this appears to be the most effective non-prescription medication combination for smoking cessation However, participants will have the option to stop receiving NRT from the study. Participants will be instructed to start using both forms of NRT 2 weeks prior to their quit date because pre-quit NRT appears to increase the effectiveness of NRT. Further, the recommended use for the NRT has recently been changed to incorporate use while smoking because "the FDA has determined that there are no significant concerns with using NRT products at the same time as another nicotine-containing product like a cigarette (https://www.nicodermcq.com/faq.html)." The investigators will instruct participants to use one patch per day and use mini-lozenges when they have cravings to smoke CCs (condition A) or cravings to smoke CCs or use ECs (condition B), without surpassing 24 mini-lozenges in one 24-hour period. Anyone for whom NRT is contraindicated will be excluded from the proposed RCT. In addition, though risk of serious adverse events from NRT is low, the investigators will assess adverse events related to study procedures on nightly surveys.

All participants will receive daily text message support throughout the 12-week treatment period. The investigators will modify a text message library from SmokefreeTXT, a free interactive text message cessation service provided by Smokefree.gov that has been used with young adult smokers, uses empirically validated Behavior Change Techniques, and has been employed to support engagement in prior smoking cessation research. Data from the investigators' ongoing research indicate young adult smokers generally find daily text messages to be helpful and acceptable. The investigators will modify text messages according to participants' assigned group. For example, text messages for participants in groups A and B will encourage regular use of NRT throughout the study period. Text messages for groups B and D will support CC and EC cessation while messages for groups A and C will support CC cessation and EC continuation. The text message service will be interactive for all participants. In addition to receiving daily texts, participants will have the opportunity to send text messages to the investigators' service which will prompt automatic responses. The investigators will work with ICF incorporated, the provider for National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT platform, to deliver all daily text messages and to deliver links to daily surveys.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 396
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Vermont
    • Burlington, Vermont, United States, 05401
      • University of Vermont

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 29 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Young adult
• Smokes tobacco cigarettes
• Uses electronic cigarettes
• Interested in quitting tobacco

Exclusion criteria:

• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• Breastfeeding or planning to start breastfeeding
• One or more contraindications for nicotine replacement therapy

Additional criteria will be assessed to determine eligibility.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the study website to find out if you are eligible: https://www.uvmquitsmokingstudy.org/

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Quit cigarettes, but continue using e-cigarettes, with nicotine replacement therapy and text support; Participants in this arm will be instructed to quit tobacco cigarettes with nicotine replacement therapy (patches and lozenges) and text message support. In addition, these participants will be encouraged to continue using electronic cigarettes to help them quit smoking tobacco cigarettes.	Drug: Nicotine replacement therapy patch; The nicotine patch is attached to the participant's skin and provides a slight constant stream of nicotine. The smaller dose is meant to reduce nicotine dependence.; Drug: Nicotine replacement therapy lozenge; The nicotine lozenge contains small amounts of nicotine, which a participant slowly dissolves in their mouth. Like the patch, the smaller dose is meant to reduce nicotine dependence.; Behavioral: Continue electronic cigarettes; Participants will receive instruction and text message support to continue using electronic cigarettes after they quit combustible cigarettes.
Experimental: Quit cigarettes and quit e-cigarettes with nicotine replacement therapy and text support.; Participants in this arm will be instructed to quit tobacco cigarettes and quit electronic cigarettes with nicotine replacement therapy (patches and lozenges) and text message support.	Drug: Nicotine replacement therapy patch; The nicotine patch is attached to the participant's skin and provides a slight constant stream of nicotine. The smaller dose is meant to reduce nicotine dependence.; Drug: Nicotine replacement therapy lozenge; The nicotine lozenge contains small amounts of nicotine, which a participant slowly dissolves in their mouth. Like the patch, the smaller dose is meant to reduce nicotine dependence.; Behavioral: Quit electronic cigarettes; Participants will receive instruction and text message support to quit electronic cigarettes when they quit combustible cigarettes.
Experimental: Quit cigarettes, but continue using e-cigarettes, with text support.; Participants in this arm will be instructed to quit tobacco cigarettes with text message support. In addition, these participants will be encouraged to continue using electronic cigarettes to help them quit smoking tobacco cigarettes.	Behavioral: Continue electronic cigarettes; Participants will receive instruction and text message support to continue using electronic cigarettes after they quit combustible cigarettes.
Experimental: Quit cigarettes and quit e-cigarettes with text support.; Participants in this arm will be instructed to quit tobacco cigarettes and quit electronic cigarettes with text message support.	Behavioral: Quit electronic cigarettes; Participants will receive instruction and text message support to quit electronic cigarettes when they quit combustible cigarettes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Biochemically Confirmed 7-day Point-prevalence Cigarette Abstinence	The investigators will report breath carbon monoxide (CO; <6 ppm) confirmed 7-day point-prevalence abstinence from combustible cigarettes at the end of treatment.	End of treatment (ie., the 3 month follow up)
Self-reported 7-day Point-prevalence Cigarette Abstinence	The investigators will report self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence from combustible cigarettes at the end of treatment.	End of treatment (ie., the 3 month follow up)
Adverse Events During Treatment	Total number of participants who reported any adverse event during the 3-month treatment period.	The 3 month treatment period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Biochemically Confirmed Prolonged 30-day Abstinence	The investigators will report CO confirmed 30-day prolonged abstinence from combustible cigarettes at the 3 month follow up.	The 3-month follow up (ie., end of treatment)
Self-reported Prolonged 30-day Abstinence	The investigators will report self-reported 30-day prolonged abstinence from combustible cigarettes at the 3- and 6-month follow ups.	The 3-month follow up (ie., end of treatment) and 6-month follow up (3 months after the end of treatment).
Any Attempts to Quit Combustible Cigarettes	The investigators will report the percent of participants who made a quit attempt lasting any length of time (including very short quit attempts) during treatment.	The 3-month treatment period.
Cigarettes Per Day	The investigators will report cigarettes per day during the 3 month treatment period among participants who continue to smoke cigarettes.	The 3-month treatment period.
Cigarette Dependence	The investigators will report cigarette dependence using the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measure of cigarette dependence (total score of 0=least to 4=most dependent) during the 3 month treatment period among participants who continue to smoke cigarettes.	The 3-month treatment period.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Vermont

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Study website with more information about the study and a survey to find out if you are eligible to participate.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 27, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 2, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): October 25, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 22, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): July 1, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Tobacco Use Disorder; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Cholinergic Agents; Ganglionic Stimulants; Nicotinic Agonists; Cholinergic Agonists; Nicotine
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00001059

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes