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NCT Number: NCT07024992

Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere

The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of an mHealth smoking cessation and HIV disease management intervention among a nationally representative sample of African America/Black (hereafter refer to as Black) persons with HIV/AIDS (PWH) who smoke cigarettes. Participants will be randomized into one of three conditions: (1) the intervention, ESCAPE (Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere) + Nicotine Replacement Medications (NRT), (2) the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) quitSTART app, the standard mobile smoking cessation treatment + NRT, and (3) an assessment-only control group + NRT.

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Key information

Conditions

ESCAPE Intervention+NRT Behavior CTRL+NRT Health Behavior Smoking Smoking Cessation quitSTART Intervention+NRT

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

About this study

This nationwide trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a smartphone-based smoking cessation and HIV care management intervention culturally tailored for Black PWH who smoke cigarettes with treated and untreated HIV.A RCT will be conducted with 300 Black PWH who smoke cigarettes to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to the smartphone-based ESCAPE intervention + NRT, the National Cancer Institute's smartphone-based quitSTART intervention + NRT, or assessment-only control + NRT. Participants will complete a self-screener, baseline appointment, 8 weeks of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), 8 weekly follow-up assessments, 10 monthly check-in surveys, a 28-week follow-up, and a final 54-week follow-up. A subset of participants will also be selected to complete a qualitative interview at the end of their 6th week in the study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Identify as Black/African American
  • Living with HIV
  • Biochemical verification of self-reported smoking status following minimum study specified smoking rate endorsement
  • Motivated to quit smoking
  • Must be ready to quit cigarettes within 14 days of full enrollment
  • Moderate or higher anxiety sensitivity OR elevated anxiety OR depression
  • Must be willing to download a mobile app onto their personal phone
  • Must be willing to use NRT
  • Possess an Android/Apple smartphone that is compatible with the mobile app
  • Demonstrate 7th grade level proficiency in English (≥4 on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form [REALM-SF])
  • Valid proof of identification (photo of valid US ID)

Exclusion criteria

  • Legal situations which may interfere with study participation
  • Not being fluent in English
  • High blood pressure that is not under control
  • Having experienced a heart attack within the past 2 weeks
  • Pregnant of planning to become pregnant within the next six months

Treatment and study plan

ESCAPE app + NRT

Behavioral

ESCAPE is a mobile intervention that targets anxiety sensitivity among Black adults who smoke cigarettes and have HIV. This intervention is framed within the cultural context of interoceptive stress among Black adults who smoke, which is supported by theory, empirical evidence, and characteristics of this group. The intervention employs a variety of features to educate users on how to deal with stress, anxiety, and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The app contains a series of on-demand features, including a coping toolkit, stress management trainings, and a series of educational videos. ESCAPE also utilizes Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to gather information and provide personalized messages to users in real time. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

quiSTART app + NRT

Behavioral

quitSTART is a smartphone-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) intervention for standard mobile smoking cessation treatment. The intervention contains features that allow its' users to better understand their smoking patterns, and build skills needed to become and stay smoke free. The app allows users to track cravings and delivers motivational messages to users for each craving they track. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

Control (CTRL)

Behavioral

The CTRL group will complete the same baseline survey, follow-up surveys, and ecological momentary assessments schedule as the ESCAPE app + NRT and the quitSTART app + NRT group. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They will not receive additional intervention content.

Primary outcomes

  1. 7-day Biochemically Verified Point Prevalence Abstinence (PPA)

    Time frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week).

    PPA will be defined as no cigarette smoking within the past 7 days, and will be biochemically verified via assessment of expired carbon monoxide (< 6 ppm).

  2. Anxiety

    Time frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week)

    Anxiety will be evaluated via Overall Anxiety Severity Index Scale (OASIS).

  3. Depression

    Time frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week).

    Depression will be evaluated via the Overall Depression Severity Index Scale (ODSIS).

  4. HIV (and general) Quality of Life

    Time frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of every assessment containing these survey items (weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week follow-ups)

    HIV (and general) quality of life will be evaluated using the the World Health Organization HIV Quality of Life Brief Scale and the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L).

  5. HIV Care Adherence/Engagement

    Time frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of every assessment containing these survey items (weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week follow-ups)

    HIV-related outcomes will be evaluated using the dichotomous variables (e.g., ART medication non-adherence and missed treatment appointments).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Anxiety Sensitivity Reduction

    Time frame: Baseline appointment through the 54-week follow-up, inclusive of follow-up assessments (Weeks 1-6, 28, and 54-week)

    Anxiety sensitivity will be evaluated using the Short Scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index (SSASI).

Study contacts

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

Katie Pereira, M.S.

CONTACT

[email protected]

713-743-9567

Lorra Garey, Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

713-743-8056

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Houston

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Oklahoma

Registry information

Official study title

A National Test of a Culturally Tailored Smartphone-based Smoking Cessation and Mental Health Intervention for Black Adults With HIV

Acronym: ESCAPE

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2029
Study completion
2029
First posted
Jun 17, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 13, 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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