NCT05586308

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

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

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Nebraska · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 19 Years – 29 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed description

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.

Conditions

• Behavior, Health Risk
• Implementation Science
• E Cigarette Use
• Cessation, Smoking
• Incentives
• Engagement, Patient
• Peer Support
• Media Literacy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Text-massaging suport	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.
BEHAVIORAL	Financial incentive	1. 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) 2. 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). 3. 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
BEHAVIORAL	Media literacy	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-12-07
• Primary completion: 2024-11-01
• Completion: 2025-06-30
• First posted: 2022-10-19
• Last updated: 2026-01-29
• Results posted: 2026-01-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States