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NCT Number: NCT07543081

Correcting Disinformation About Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars

Our study tests a multi-level anti- disinformation message (ADM) campaign on menthol cigarette and flavored cigar policies in Black adults.

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Key information

Conditions

Disinformation Behavior Deception Flavored Cigars Menthol Cigarettes Social Behavior

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901, United States

Location contact

Andrea C Villanti, PhD, MPH

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Kymberle L Sterling, DrPH

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Study Coordinator

CONTACT

[email protected]

732-331-0626

About this study

This study uses a prospective, randomized factorial trial design to evaluate delivery of anti-disinformation messaging (ADM) on Black adults' receptivity to flavored tobacco policies, beliefs about the tobacco industry, and beliefs about menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Eligible, consenting participants will complete the baseline survey, providing sociodemographic information and baseline measures of study outcomes. Participants will then be randomized, stratified by study site (Atlanta, GA or Birmingham, AL), in a 1:1 ratio within the survey platform to either the individually-delivered ADM intervention or control condition. Participants in the intervention condition (Intervention-I) will receive their first exposure to the ADM intervention at the end of baseline survey. At follow-up assessments (3-months, 6-months, 9-months, 12-months), all participants will complete study measures and at 3-, 6-, and 9-month follow-up assessments, Intervention-I participants will be exposed to the ADM intervention at the end of the survey. Six months after our first enrollment in the trial, Atlanta will receive the community-delivered ADM intervention, while Birmingham serves as the control community. Community partners in Atlanta, our Intervention Community (Intervention-C), will disseminate our ADM intervention messages through their community networks for 12 months, overlapping at least six months with the delivery of the individual-level intervention (Intervention-I) in our enrolled participants. Upon completion of the final assessment (12-month follow-up), all participants will be exposed to the ADM intervention within the survey platform and asked to complete measures on perceived message effectiveness and credibility of the study messages.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • African American or Black adults
  • Aged 18+
  • Reside in Atlanta, GA or Birmingham, AL
  • Able to read and speak English
  • Willing to engage in all online study activities including online quarterly surveys over a 12-month period.

Exclusion criteria

-

Treatment and study plan

Individual delivery of anti-disinformation messaging

Behavioral

Participants in this condition will be exposed to anti-disinformation messages (ADM) designed to increase correct beliefs about menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars, the purpose, and limits of flavored tobacco policies. The delayed intervention control condition in this study will receive the ADM intervention after outcome measures are collected at the last assessment.

Community delivery of anti-disinformation messaging

Behavioral

Our community-level campaign will distribute our ADM messages to our Intervention Community via social media, print ads and posters, radio ads, and community events. These messages will be delivered over 1 year, with monthly delivery activities led by EAB members in the Intervention Community.

Primary outcomes

  1. Proportion of participants with specific tobacco industry beliefs

    Time frame: 3, 6, 9, 12 months

    Beliefs items address tobacco industry behaviors, including funding Black community organizations, paying Black lobbyists to oppose public health policies, and targeting Black and African American communities with menthol cigarette and flavored cigar marketing.

  2. Knowledge about menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars

    Time frame: 3, 6, 9, 12 months

    Items address prevalence of menthol cigarette and flavored cigar use in Black and African Americans and role of menthol/flavors in tobacco initiation, progression, and cessation.

  3. Knowledge of flavored tobacco policies

    Time frame: 3, 6, 9, 12 months

    Items address the public health purpose and limits of flavored tobacco policies.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Intention to support flavored tobacco policies

    Time frame: 3, 6, 9, 12 months

    Items address plans to support local, state, and federal policies regarding flavored tobacco products.

Study contacts

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

Study Coordinator

CONTACT

[email protected]

732-331-0626

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Registry information

Official study title

The Unvarnished Truth: Pursuing Health Equity by Correcting Disinformation Targeting African Americans About the FDA's Proposed Ban on Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Apr 21, 2026
Registry last updated
May 5, 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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