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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05586308

Incentive-based and Media Literacy Informed Approaches to Improve Vaping Cessation

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and compare the preliminary effect of vaping cessation program consisting of media literacy education and real-time text messaging support and leverage insights from behavioral economics to enhance social and financial incentives to improve program engagement, and eventually abstinence. Our hypotheses are that 1) the Combined arm is associated with improved vaping abstinence to the Media literacy and Financial incentive arms; and 2) the financial incentive-related arms (either Combined or Financial incentive) enhance engagement compared to the non-incentive related arms.

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Key information

Conditions

Behavior, Health Risk Behavior Cessation, Smoking E Cigarette Use Engagement, Patient Health Behavior Health Risk Behaviors Implementation Science Incentives Media Literacy Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Participation Peer Support Smoking Smoking Cessation Treatment Adherence and Compliance Vaping

Age range

19 year–29 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Unversity of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States

About this study

The objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and compare the potential effect of different vaping cessation intervention components in addition to evidence-based text-messaging support, including 1) media literacy interactive e-learning lessons, 2) financial incentives, and 3) combined (media literacy + financial incentive) on vaping abstinence among current young adult vapers over a three-month timeframe with the following specific aims: Aim 1. To assess the feasibility of a multi-component vaping cessation program; and Aim 2 To evaluate the preliminary effect of a multicomponent vaping cessation program. Eligible participants are young adults aged 19-29 and are current vapers (i.e., has vaped in the previous 30 days).We will employ a 4-arm, feasibility randomized trial design to determine the preliminary effect of different vaping intervention components on vaping abstinence over a 3-month timeframe, consisting of a 1-month quitting preparation phase and 2-month abstinence phase. Eligible participants (n=80) will be randomized (in a 1:1:1:1 ratio), using a computer-generated algorithm, to to one of four vaping cessation interventions: 1) Active control: text-messaging support, 2) Media literacy: media literacy + text-messaging support, 3) Financial incentive: financial incentive + text-messaging support, and 4) Combined: media literacy e-learning lessons + financial incentive + text-messaging support, at the baseline visit. Regardless of intervention arms, all enrolled participants will receive receive an evidence-base text-messaging support program for quitting vaping (This is Quitting). Participants will be followed through a 3-month study period including a 1-month quitting preparation phase and a 2-month abstinence phase. All participants will be asked to provide the 5 saliva cotinine samples- at baseline and end-of-study visits and 3 at video calls (remote submissions). Participants who assigned to the financial incentive Combined groups will be provided monetary rewards for submitting saliva cotinine samples during the abstinence period. To examine the feasibility of biomarker testing for toxic exposures, for a subsample of 20 participants, a panel of biomarkers of toxic exposures will be measured at baseline and at the end of study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 19-29
  • Report vaping in the previous 30 days
  • Have access to internet/video chat/SMS text message
  • Are interested in quitting vaping in the next 30 days

Exclusion criteria

  • Must meet all the inclusion criteria
  • Self-report as currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 3 months
  • Already involved in vaping cession programs (either behavioral or medical intervention)

Treatment and study plan

Text-massaging suport

Behavioral

Text-messaging quitting support program (i.e., This is Quitting) is an evidence-based, free mobile program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people quit vaping. The program is fully automated and interactive. To establish or reinforce perceived social norms and social support around quitting, a majority of messages come from other users who have submitted them to the program.

Financial incentive

Behavioral
  • Participants will earn $3 for each saliva cotinine sample submission regardless of positive or negative results after the quit day (an assessments at Week 6, Week 8, Week 10, and Week 12, during the abstinence phase)
  • Participants will earn additional escalating rewards for each negative sample- $7 for Week 6, $12 for Week 8, $17 for Week 10, and $22 for Week 12 (2 months after the target quit date). The bonus starts at $7 and increase by $5 for each subsequent negative cotinine sample (i.e., $7, $12, $17, and $22).
  • A reset contingency will be used. That is the reward amount will be returned back to original $7 if there is a missing or positive saliva cotinine sample

Media Literacy

Behavioral

Media literacy e-learning lessons cover topics regarding what e-cigarettes are and how they work, how nicotine and nicotine addiction affects the brain and behavior, how to prepare to quit vaping, developing a quit plan and how to deal with cravings and relapse. The program focuses on changing knowledge, attitudes and beliefs related to e-cigarette use, as well as emphasizing vaping related media literacy.

Primary outcomes

  1. Engagement_remote checkin_3

    Time frame: 3 months

    Engagement will be assessed by proportions of participants who submitted the remote saliva cotinine sample at remote checkin 3.

  2. Retention

    Time frame: 3 months

    The number of participants who completed the end-of-study assessment (Week 12).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Biochemically Verified Vaping Abstinence

    Time frame: 3 months

    Biochemically verified vaping abstinence (negative results- < 30 ng/mL) will be measured by saliva cotinine samples at end of study (Week 12).

  2. Self-reported Vaping Abstinence

    Time frame: 3 months

    Self-reported vaping abstinence will be assessed by the question "In the past 30 days, did you vape at all, even a puff of someone else?" at the end-of-study visit.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nebraska

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Registry information

Official study title

Pilot Study of Incentive-based and Media Literacy-informed Approaches to Improve Vaping Cessation Among Young Adults

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Oct 19, 2022
Registry last updated
Jan 29, 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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