Effects of Electronic Cigarette Flavors on Abuse Liability in Smokers (P3-Taste)

Primary outcomes

1. Intensity of Drug Purchase Task (DPT)

   Time frame: There are 4 Sessions: Day 1: own brand (1 condition), Day 3: 2.4% (2 conditions), Day 5: 5% (2 conditions), and Day 7: 6% (2 conditions). The sessions were separated by 48 hours.

   The DPTs will yield measures of willingness to pay and measures of price sensitivity for session-specific tobacco products. Choices made during this task are not reinforced during the session. Order effects are not assessed in this study design.

   Intensity, as measured by DPT, is a self-report measure used to assess the reinforcing efficacy or motivational value of a substance. It is a specific quantitative index that refers to the maximum amount of a drug a person would consume if it were available at zero or minimal cost. For this assessment, intensity is measured in puffs (e.g., 0-100 puffs if each puff were free).

2. Price Sensitivity of Drug Purchase Task (DPT)

   Time frame: There are 4 Sessions: Day 1: own brand (1 condition), Day 3: 2.4% (2 conditions), Day 5: 5% (2 conditions), and Day 7: 6% (2 conditions). The sessions were separated by 48 hours.

   The DPTs will yield measures of willingness to pay and measures of price sensitivity for session-specific tobacco products. Choices made during this task are not reinforced during the session. Order effects are not assessed in this study design.

   Price sensitivity (α; change in amount purchased as price increases) as measured by DPT. By analyzing these metrics, researchers can quantify and compare the motivational strength and reinforcing value of different substances or different doses, providing insight into the overvaluation of drugs that contributes to addiction. (e.g., 0% to 1% range)

   DPT outcomes included: breakpoint (highest price participants were willing to pay), intensity (consumption at zero cost), and price sensitivity (α; change in amount purchased as price increases

3. Breakpoint of Drug Purchase Task (DPT)

   Time frame: There are 4 Sessions: Day 1: own brand (1 condition), Day 3: 2.4% (2 conditions), Day 5: 5% (2 conditions), and Day 7: 6% (2 conditions). The sessions were separated by 48 hours.

   The DPTs will yield measures of willingness to pay and measures of price sensitivity for session-specific tobacco products. Choices made during this task are not reinforced during the session. Order effects are not assessed in this study design.

   Breakpoint, as measured by DPT, is defined as the first price at which a participant's consumption of a hypothetical drug product is suppressed to zero. The DPT is a behavioral economics assessment tool used to measure the reinforcing value (or abuse liability) of substances. Participants are asked to report how much of a drug they would consume at a series of escalating prices, assuming no access to other similar products and that all consumption would occur within a specified time period (e.g., one day). (e.g. $0.00 to $10.00 range)

4. Cross-price Elasticity of the Cross Product-DPT

   Time frame: There are 4 Sessions: Day 1: own brand (1 condition), Day 3: 2.4% (2 conditions), Day 5: 5% (2 conditions), and Day 7: 6% (2 conditions). The sessions were separated by 48 hours.

   The Cross Product (CP)-DPTs assess cross-product purchasing behaviors between various tobacco products offered at a fixed amount and own brand cigarettes offered at varying prices. Order effects are not assessed in this study design.

   CP-DPT involves participants making two hypothetical choices at once, for a series of price scenarios. For example, participants are asked how many puffs of their Own Brand Cigarette AND how many puffs of a menthol-flavored NJOY Ace 2.4% Nicotine ECIG they would purchase if each Own Brand Cigarette puff cost $0.00 (i.e., free) and each menthol-flavored NJOY Ace 2.4% Nicotine ECIG puff cost $0.10.The outcome of the task is cross-price elasticity.