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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05838378

Cigarillo Warnings Image Sorting Study

The goal of this study is to examine the impact of repeated exposure to cigarillo warnings on cigarillo users' intentions and behaviors for cigarillo smoking. Eligible participants will be randomized to one of three experimental conditions that will vary based on cigarillo warning format.

For 4 weeks, participants will participate in an image-sorting task where they will be asked to sort a set of ~18 cigarillo packages into flavor categories determined a priori by the research team (e.g., Mint, Fruit, Dessert).

At the end of the study, participants will be notified of the purpose of the study and provided links to resources with information about the harms of cigarillo smoking and cessation.

The study will be conducted in an online survey, working with Qualtrics research company, who will program the survey, recruit and screen participants, and administer the survey.

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Key information

Age range

21 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Boston University School of Public Health, study online

Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Current cigarillo user-used cigarillos at least one time per week in the past month
  • Recruited through Qualtrics Research Services

Exclusion criteria

  • Not recruited through Qualtrics Research Services
  • Non-English speaking

Treatment and study plan

Package image sorting with pictorial warnings

Other

Weekly for four weeks participants will complete an image-sorting task based on sorting cigarillos by flavor categories [fruit (e.g., Grape), alcohol (e.g., Wine) desserts/candy (e.g., Sticky Sweets), mint (e.g., Menthol), color (e.g., Blue Crush), and other]. Participants will sort 18 images of cigarillo packages from various brands with pictorial warnings on each pack.

Package image sorting with Surgeon General text-only warnings

Other

Weekly for four weeks participants will complete an image-sorting task based on sorting cigarillos by flavor categories [fruit (e.g., Grape), alcohol (e.g., Wine) desserts/candy (e.g., Sticky Sweets), mint (e.g., Menthol), color (e.g., Blue Crush), and other]. Participants will sort 18 images of cigarillo packages from various brands with Surgeon General text-only warnings on each pack.

Package image sorting with FDA text-only warnings

Other

Weekly for four weeks participants will complete an image-sorting task based on sorting cigarillos by flavor categories [fruit (e.g., Grape), alcohol (e.g., Wine) desserts/candy (e.g., Sticky Sweets), mint (e.g., Menthol), color (e.g., Blue Crush), and other]. Participants will sort 18 images of cigarillo packages from various brands with FDA text-only warnings on each pack.

Primary outcomes

  1. Intention to Quit Smoking Cigarillos in the Next 30 Days at Weeks 2-4

    Time frame: Weeks 2-4

    Assessed by the score for 3 survey items: 1) how interested participants are in quitting cigarillo smoking in the next 30 days; 2) how likely they are to quit smoking cigarillos in the next 30 days; and 3) how much they plan to quit smoking cigarillos in the next 30 days. Each survey item has a 5-pt response scale (1=Not at all to 5= Extremely). All items are averaged to create a composite quit intentions score which can range from 1 to 5. Higher scores are associated with a greater intention to quit.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Interest Cutting Smoking

    Time frame: Weeks 2-4

    Assessed by a single survey item asking how interested participants are in cutting back or reducing the number of cigarillos they smoke in the next 30 days. The survey item has a 5-pt response scale (1=Not at all to 5= Extremely). Higher numbers are associated with greater interest in cutting back or reducing the number of cigarillos smoked in the next 30 days

  2. Number of Participants in Week 2 Who Reported Specific Behaviors to Reduce Cigarillo Smoking for the Past Week

    Time frame: Week 2

    Assessed by 4 survey items with response options of yes/no: in the past week, have you: 1) butted out a cigarillo before you finished because you wanted to smoke less? 2) stopped yourself from smoking a cigarillo because you wanted to smoke less? 3) tried to quit cigarillos completely; 4) tried cutting back on your cigarillo smoking?

  3. Number of Participants in Week 3 Who Reported Specific Behaviors to Reduce Cigarillo Smoking for the Past Week

    Time frame: Week 3

    Assessed by 4 survey items with response options of yes/no: in the past week, have you: 1) butted out a cigarillo before you finished because you wanted to smoke less? 2) stopped yourself from smoking a cigarillo because you wanted to smoke less? 3) tried to quit cigarillos completely; 4) tried cutting back on your cigarillo smoking?

  4. Number of Participants in Week 4 Who Reported Specific Behaviors to Reduce Cigarillo Smoking for the Past Week

    Time frame: week 4

    Assessed by 4 survey items with response options of yes/no: in the past week, have you: 1) butted out a cigarillo before you finished because you wanted to smoke less? 2) stopped yourself from smoking a cigarillo because you wanted to smoke less? 3) tried to quit cigarillos completely; 4) tried cutting back on your cigarillo smoking?

Other outcomes

  1. Quitting Self-efficacy Based on Anticipated Success

    Time frame: Weeks 2-4

    Assessed by a single survey item asking how successful participants think they would be if they tried to quit smoking in the next 30 days. The survey item has a 5-pt response scale (0=Not at all to 5= Extremely). Higher numbers suggest greater anticipated success.

  2. Quitting Stages of Change on a Quit Ladder

    Time frame: Weeks 2-4

    Assessed by an image of a quit ladder, asking participants where they are now on the ladder in regards to cigarillo smoking (1 is no thought of quitting - 10 is taking action to quit). Higher numbers are associated with greater readiness to quite.

  3. Warning Recall

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed by one survey item asking participants if they noticed any health warnings on the cigarillo packages during the study, with response options of Yes, No, and I'm not sure. Recall is defined as a "Yes" response.

  4. Warning Reactions

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed by four survey items assessing participants' perceptions of the warning for 1) grabbing attention; 2) eliciting disgust/emotions; 3) thinking about the risks; 4) self-reported learning. Response options from 1 = not at all to 5 = very much. Higher numbers indicate 1) more attention-grabbing; 2) greater negative emotions; 3) more thinking about the risks; 4) greater self-reported learning.

  5. Number of Participants With Warning Recognition

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed by one survey item asking participants to identify which warning they saw during the study period. Participants will be shown their warning, a warning they did not see, and "I'm not sure" response options. Selecting the correct warning indicates warning recognition.

  6. Warning Relevance

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed with 2 survey items about participants' perceptions about the relevance of the cigarillo warning for those who smoke cigarillos with cannabis (i.e., blunts). Response options ranged from 1 = not at all to 5 = very much. Higher numbers indicate greater relevance of the warnings.

  7. Beliefs About Harms Associated With Cigarillo Smoking

    Time frame: Week 4

    The average score on participants' beliefs about cigarillo smoking harms, assessed with 11 survey items. The 11 survey items are averaged to create a belief score. Belief scoring is on a 5 point response scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree). Higher scores are associated with stronger agreement with the belief statements about the harms of cigarillo use.

  8. Knowledge About Harms Associated With Cigarillo Smoking

    Time frame: Week 4

    Knowledge is assessed with 10 survey items about the harms associated with cigarillo smoking, such as cigarillos being addictive and causing heart disease with three response options: True = 1, False = 0, I don't know = 0. Scores can range from 0 to 10 about the harms participants answered correctly (True responses).

  9. Number of Participants Who Talked About About the Harms of Cigarillo Smoking (Social Interactions)

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed with the first of 3 survey items about: 1) the frequency in which participants talked to others about the harms of cigarillo smoking, 2) quitting cigarillo smoking, or 3) about the packages in the study. Response options range from 1 = never to 5 = 10 times or more. Higher numbers suggest more social interactions.

  10. Number of Participants Who Talked About Quitting Cigarillo Smoking (Social Interactions)

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed with the second of 3 survey items about: 1) the frequency in which participants talked to others about the harms of cigarillo smoking, 2) quitting cigarillo smoking, or 3) about the packages in the study. Response options range from 1 = never to 5 = 10 times or more. Higher numbers suggest more social interactions.

  11. Number of Participants Who Talked About the Packages in the Study (Social Interactions)

    Time frame: Week 4

    Assessed with the third of 3 survey items about: 1) the frequency in which participants talked to others about the harms of cigarillo smoking, 2) quitting cigarillo smoking, or 3) about the packages in the study. Response options range from 1 = never to 5 = 10 times or more. Higher numbers suggest more social interactions.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Boston University

Other

Collaborators

  • Brown University
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of Cigarillo Warnings on Purchasing and Smoking Behaviors Among Young Adult Cigarillo Users, Aim 2 Survey

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 1, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 8, 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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