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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05825001

Evaluating the Episodic Future Thinking Intervention for Reducing Cigarette Consumption in Cigarette Smokers

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of active episodic future thinking (EFT) stimuli for reducing cigarette consumption in cigarette smokers. EFT is an innovative framing method shown to significantly activate brain regions involved in future thinking, planning, and other executive functions. Active EFT stimuli are positive events, unrelated to smoking, that participants anticipate, look forward to, and can vividly imagine happening up to 1 year in the future. Control EFT stimuli are positive past events, unrelated to smoking, that participants can vividly remember happening in the recent past. Active EFT stimuli may help reduce cigarette consumption among cigarette smokers by exposing them to personally relevant future oriented stimuli.

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Key information

Conditions

Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Buffalo, New York, 14263, United States

About this study

PRIMARY OBJEECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the efficacy of episodic future thinking (EFT) for smoking cessation.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I (ACTIVE): Participants receive the active EFT stimulus and use the iCOquit Smokerlyzer carbon monoxide monitor on study.

ARM II (CONTROL): Participants receive the control EFT stimulus and use the iCOquit Smokerlyzer carbon monoxide monitor on study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Smoke >= 10 cigarettes daily
  • >32 on the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ)
  • No regular use of other tobacco products
  • In possession of a smartphone with text messaging capabilities
  • Willing to quit smoking in the next 30 days
  • Low socioeconomic status
  • Veteran of the US armed services

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable or unwilling to provide verbal consent
  • Unable or unwilling to provide data to the research team
  • Current use of nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, or varenicline
  • Use of drugs of abuse in the past 30 days
  • Living in the same household as a participant already enrolled in this study
  • Unable or unwilling to use nicotine patches

Treatment and study plan

Smoking Cessation Intervention

Behavioral

Receive active EFT stimulus

Other names: Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Interventions

Smoking Cessation Intervention (control)

Behavioral

Receive control EFT stimulus

Other names: Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Interventions

Medical Device Usage and Evaluation

Other

Use iCOquit Smokerlyzer carbon monoxide monitor

Primary outcomes

  1. Concentration of carbon monoxide on breath

    Time frame: From baseline up to 30 days

    Will be measured by Micro+Basic carbon monoxide monitor

Secondary outcomes

  1. Reduction in delay discounting rate

    Time frame: Up to 30 days

    participants will be guided to imagine the situational and sensory details for each of the stimuli until the vividness scores are ≥ 4 on a scale of 1-5 (1=very low, 5=very high).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Pilot Study of Episodic Future Thinking Among Cigarette Smokers

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 24, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 22, 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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