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NCT Number: NCT07571018

A Novel Mobile Health Intervention for Improving Tobacco Cessation Among Young Adults

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable cancer deaths. Among young adults, approximately 1 in 5 use commercial nicotine and tobacco products, putting them at risk of developing nicotine addiction and long-term health effects from exposure to toxicants. Innovative approaches are needed to engage young adults in treatment, as they are less engaged in traditional treatment.

This clinical trial compares two versions of a mobile health intervention called Living Free from Tobacco (LiFT), designed to support nicotine and tobacco cessation among young adults. Both versions of the app are designed to motivate and support young adults to stop using nicotine and tobacco, regardless of current readiness to quit. Version A of the LiFT app (LiFT A) focuses on increasing psychological flexibility to support cessation, while Version B (LiFT B) provides educational content and resources related to tobacco use and cessation. Both versions of the program are delivered through a smartphone application and include accompanying text messages.

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Key information

Conditions

Tobacco-Related Carcinoma

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States

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About this study

OUTLINE: Participants are assigned to 1 of 3 phases.

USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PHASE (Objective 1): Participants attend user testing interviews where they interact with LiFT application (app) prototypes and provide feedback through think-aloud methods to support refinement of the intervention content and features.

PILOT TRIAL PHASE (Objective 2): Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

  • ARM I: Participants use the LiFT A app, which includes interactive games and exercises, educational content, and tools tailored to young adults using an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) treatment approach, for 3 months. Participants also receive associated text messages 2-3 times per week.
  • ARM II: Participants use the LiFT B app, which includes educational resources on preparing to quit, nicotine withdrawal, coping with withdrawal, and mental health, along with health information videos, for 3 months. Participants also receive associated text messages 2-3 times per week.

POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY PHASE (Objective 3): Participants use the LiFT app and complete daily usability and satisfaction assessments for approximately 1 week. Participants also complete a survey and attend an interview.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-identify being between 18 and 30 years of age
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must be a United States (US) resident, with a US mailing address
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-report use of any (non-therapeutic) nicotine or tobacco product at least once per week in the 30 days prior to screening
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must own a smartphone
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-report having internet access for the interviews
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-report that they are interested in participating in the study for themselves (versus [vs] someone else)
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-report that they have not participated in one of our prior tobacco cessation studies
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-report that they understand and agree to the conditions of compensation
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must self-report that they are not currently incarcerated
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Participants must be willing and able to complete study procedures in English
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-identify being between 18 and 30 years of age
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must currently reside in the US and anticipate continued residence for the duration of the study (3 months)
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report use of any (non-therapeutic) nicotine or tobacco product at least once per week in the 30 days prior to screening
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must own an Android (running version 12 or higher) or iPhone (running iOS version 17 or higher, iPhone 11 or more recent)
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report having at least weekly internet access for the next three months
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must be willing and able to download an app to their phone and receive text messages
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report current use of a personal email account
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report current use of text messaging
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report that they are interested in participating in the study for themselves (vs someone else)
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report that they have not participated in one of our prior tobacco cessation studies
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report that they understand and agree to the conditions of compensation
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must self-report that they are not currently incarcerated
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must be willing to use the assigned intervention program, complete the study assessments, and complete an online consent form in English
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-identify being between 18 and 30 years of age
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must currently reside in the US
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report use of any (non-therapeutic) nicotine or tobacco product at least once per week in the 30 days prior to screening
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must own an Android (running version 12 or higher) or iPhone (running iOS version 17 or higher, iPhone 11 or more recent)
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report having at least internet access for the duration of the diary study
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must be willing and able to download an app to their phone and receive text messages
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report current use of a personal email account
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report current use of text messaging
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report that they are interested in participating in the study for themselves (vs someone else)
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report that they have not participated in one of our prior tobacco cessation studies
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report that they understand and agree to the conditions of compensation
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must self-report that they are not currently incarcerated
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must be willing to use the intervention program, complete the study assessments, and complete an online consent form in English

Exclusion criteria

  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Individuals must not be < 18 or > 30 years of age
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Individuals must not have a Google voice number as their sole phone number
  • USER-CENTERED DESIGN AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Individuals who are non-English speaking cannot participate, as this would prevent their participation in the interviews, which will be conducted in English
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must not be < 18 or > 30 years of age
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must not be currently using other tobacco cessation treatments at the time of screening, including pharmacotherapy or behavioral support (but initiating these treatments during the study is allowed)
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must not be a member of the same household as another research participant
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must not have a Google voice number as their sole phone number
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must not be identified as fraudulent per our fraud prevention protocol
  • PILOT TRIAL: Participants must not be pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant over the next 3 months
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Individuals must not be < 18 or > 30 years of age
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Participants must not have a Google voice number as their sole phone number
  • POST PILOT TRIAL DIARY STUDY: Individuals who are non-English speaking cannot participate, as this would prevent their participation in the interviews, which will be conducted in English

Treatment and study plan

Smartphone app-based Intervention

Other

Use LiFT A app

Communication intervention

Other

Receive LiFT A text messages

Survey Administration

Other

Complete surveys

interview

Other

Attend interview

Assessment

Other

Complete usability assessment

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall satisfaction (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Overall satisfaction with the assigned program will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  2. Number of logins to assigned application (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Treatment utilization will include number of logins to the assigned application, determined objectively using tracking software.

  3. Usefulness of the program (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    The perceived usefulness of the assigned program will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  4. Usefulness of text messages (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    The perceived usefulness of the assigned program's text messages will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  5. Satisfaction with perceived tailoring (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    The perception that the assigned program was made for someone like the participant will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  6. Satisfaction with guidance on how to quit (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    The perception that the program clarified how to quit nicotine/tobacco when ready will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  7. Perception that program offered a novel approach to quitting (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    The perception that the program offered a new way of looking at quitting will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  8. Perceived helpfulness for quit preparation (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    The perception that the program will help with quitting if/when ready will be assessed by self-report on a 5-point Likert-type scale from "not at all" (1) to "very much" (5) and summarized by arm using means and standard deviations.

  9. Willingness to recommend program to a friend (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Whether the respondent would recommend the program to a friend will be assessed via responses of "yes," "no," or "not sure." Responses will be categorized into a binary variable representing "yes" versus other responses (i.e.,"no" or "not sure").

  10. Usability (Post pilot trial diary study phase)

    Time frame: At completion of post pilot trial diary study phase (At Day 9)

    Qualitative data from interviews, diary entries and exit interviews will be coded and analyzed using rapid inductive content analysis to extract themes. Usability data will be reported using descriptive statistics and compared against the benchmark score of 68, which represents average usability.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Biochemically-confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) from all nicotine and tobacco use (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Percentage of participants reporting abstinence from all nicotine and tobacco use (excluding Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapies) over the previous 7 days, biochemically confirmed via saliva cotinine.

  2. Self-reported 7-day PPA from all nicotine and tobacco use (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Percentage of participants reporting abstinence from all nicotine and tobacco use (excluding Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapies) over the previous 7 days.

  3. Self-reported 30-day PPA (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Percentage of participants reporting abstinence from all nicotine and tobacco use (excluding Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapies) over the previous 30 days.

  4. Cotinine-confirmed 30-day PPA (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: At 3 months

    Percentage of participants reporting abstinence from all nicotine and tobacco use (excluding Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacotherapies) over the previous 30 days, biochemically confirmed via saliva cotinine.

  5. Average change in Contemplation Ladder scores (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: From baseline to 3 months

    The outcome will be calculated as the 3-month follow-up minus baseline score on the 11-point Contemplation Ladder. Positive change scores indicate increases in readiness to quit, on average, whereas negative change scores indicate decreases in readiness to quit.

  6. Change in acceptance of tobacco use triggers (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: From baseline to 3 months

    This outcome will be calculated as the 3-month follow-up minus baseline score on the cravings subscale of the Avoidance and Inflexibility Scale. Because avoidance and inflexibility represent the inverse of acceptance, positive change scores indicate a decrease in acceptance, on average, whereas negative change scores indicate increased acceptance of tobacco use triggers.

  7. Change in values progress (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: From baseline to 3 months

    This outcome will be calculated as the 3-month follow-up minus baseline score the progress subscale of the Valuing Questionnaire. Positive change scores indicate increases in values progress, on average, whereas negative change scores indicate decreases in values progress.

  8. Change in values obstruction (Pilot trial phase)

    Time frame: From baseline to 3 months

    This outcome will be calculated as the 3-month follow-up minus baseline score the values obstruction subscale of the Valuing Questionnaire. Positive change scores indicate increases in values obstruction, on average, whereas negative change scores indicate decreases in values obstruction.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jaimee Heffner, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

206-667-7314

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Development and Pilot Evaluation of a Novel Mobile Health Intervention for Young Adult Tobacco Cessation

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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