Twitter-enabled Mobile Messaging for Smoking Relapse Prevention (Tweet2Quit)

The proposed randomized controlled evaluation of the Tweet2Quit intervention will biochemically verify abstinence out to 6-months follow-up and will test the personalized benefit for women of a women-only versus co-ed Tweet2Quit group. In a 3-arm design, the investigators will compare: 1) usual care, 2) Tweet2Quit-coed, and 3) Tweet2Quit-Women only.

Each Tweet2Quit group will include buddy pairs based on similarity in demographics. Also automated pattern detection will identify dips in tweeting and trigger automated alerts and engagement strategies.

The sample consists of 960 adult smokers plus 20 in an initial pilot group to check technology functionality (not included in outcome assessment).

The primary aims test Hypothesis 1: Relative to usual care (n=240), Tweet2Quit-coed groups (n=480) will achieve significantly greater bioconfirmed sustained abstinence out to 6-months follow-up for each gender, and Hypothesis 2: Women in Tweet2Quit will achieve significantly greater bioconfirmed 6-months abstinence in woman-only groups (n=240) vs. coed groups (n=240 women).

Our secondary aims are to test the same hypotheses based on 3-month (end of treatment) sustained abstinence and 7-day point prevalence at 1, 3, and 6 months with biochemical verification at 3 and 6 months. Exploratory aims will study the Tweet2Quit groups' social network structures with a focus on the identification of buddy pairs and social brokers and test if these relationships are stronger for women in women-only groups versus women in coed groups of Tweet2Quit.

*Prior to the start of the RCT, the investigators will run one coed pilot group (N=20). Total size of the study (including the pilot group) will be N=980.

Inclusion criteria

• Are 21-59 years of age
• Are smoking 5+ cigarettes/day and 100+ cigarettes in one's lifetime
• In the preparation stage of quitting smoking
• Are English speaking
• Have a mobile phone with an unlimited texting plan and internet access (via mobile phone)
• Text at least once a week
• Are a social media user
• Have an active email account
• Lives in the continental USA

Exclusion criteria

• Have certain medical conditions that are contraindicated for nicotine replacement therapy: pregnant, breast feeding, a recent heart attack, an irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure not controlled with medication, skin allergies to adhesive tape or serious skin problems, taking a prescription medicine for depression, and/or any other medical conditions that would prevent you from completing this study.
• Are an illicit hard drug user or regular marijuana user
• Share a household with someone else or has an immediate family member who has already enrolled in the study currently or in the past or if the participant has already been enrolled or failed to pass the screening once already since October 2016
• Participated in Tweet2Quit between 2012-2013 in a Twitter group and was not an active tweeter (<1 week)
• Fails to provide valid forms of all the required personal contact information