Storytelling Narrative Communication Intervention for Smoking Cessation in Women Living With HIV

The proposed study employs a mixed-methods research design. The investigators will first develop narrative videos in collaboration with community organizations of WLHIV in Boston. Second, the investigators will conduct a two-arm RCT assigning participants at a ratio of 1:1 to either one of the two arms (Experimental: HIV-tailored plus SNC interventions vs. Control: HIV-tailored intervention). Both arms have eight weekly sessions of a 30-minute HIV-tailored cessation intervention (cognitive behavioral therapy plus nicotine patches). The experimental arm will receive three 5-7 minute SNC videos, each per month between the first and third month of quitting, whereas the control arm will receive three 5-minute attention control videos at the same monthly interval.

A total of 60 WLHIV will be recruited via online and offline advertisements and personal networks of community organizations and health care providers who work for people with HIV. To participate in the study, the following criteria must be met: women who 1) are able to speak English; 2) self-report HIV infection and submit a supplementary document if necessary; 3) are between the ages of 18 and 65; 4) have been smoking at least 5 cigarettes a day for the past 6 months; 5) own a mobile phone with an access to a video call application such as Skype, Imo, Tango, and Face Time; 6) are willing to quit smoking within the next 4 weeks from the baseline assessment; and 7) agree to use an approved form of birth control (e.g., oral medications, condoms, and intrauterine devices) during the study period. Individuals will be excluded if they: 1) are not able to speak English; 2) are pregnant or lactating; 3) have an active skin disease or serious alcohol use problems (≥ 26 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), 4) self-report currently receiving treatment for a serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder); or 5) currently use any illegal substances excluding marijuana.

The investigators will recruit participants with frequent announcements of the study in Craigslist and paid online advertisements. The majority of intake interviews will be conducted via telephone, which will take 30 minutes at most. To prevent attrition, the investigators will execute several strategies, including tracking subjects at least every other month and providing incentives for follow-up testing. Counselors will proactively call participants prior to each therapy session and confirm the appointment a few hours before the session. A research assistant (RA) who will be blinded to the intervention condition will conduct all follow-up assessments via telephone calls and videoconferencing for saliva cotinine tests.

Inclusion criteria

women who:

• are able to speak English
• self-report HIV infection and submit a supplementary document if necessary
• are between the ages of 18 and 65
• have been smoking at least 5 cigarettes a day for the past 6 months
• own a mobile phone with an access to a video call application such as Skype, Imo, Tango, and Face Time
• are willing to quit smoking within the next 4 weeks from the baseline assessment; and
• agree to use an approved form of birth control (e.g., oral medications, condoms, and intrauterine devices) during the study period.

Exclusion criteria

Women who:

• are not able to speak English
• are pregnant or lactating
• have an active skin disease or serious alcohol use problems (≥ 26 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test59)
• self-report currently receiving treatment for a serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) or
• currently use any illegal substances excluding marijuana.