Evaluation of National Cancer Institute Young Adult Stop-Smoking Program
Condition: Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Cigarette Smoking; Tobacco, Smoking
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      Background:

      - Researchers want to see how well the QuitTXT text-message program helps smokers ages 18 29
      stop smoking. This is part of a larger online stop-smoking program by the National Cancer
      Institute. The QuitTXT program is a 2-week countdown to the smoker s quit date with 6 weeks
      of follow-up messages. Program participants will receive texts on their cell phones,
      including tips, information, and motivational messages, and then fill out surveys.

      Objectives:

      - To study how well the QuitTXT program helps smokers ages 18 29 stop smoking.

      Eligibility:

      - Adults ages 18 29 who have smoked on at least 5 of the past 30 days and who want to stop
      smoking in the next 30 days.

      Design:

        -  Participants will receive a certain number of text messages during the 8-week study.
           They will receive between 0 to 5 messages per day (or up to a total of 130 messages).

        -  Participants will first fill out a survey about their smoking and quitting experiences.
           Then they will choose a date to quit smoking (a quit date ) between 2 and 3 weeks after
           this survey.

        -  Participants will take four other surveys online, one during the program and three more
           after they ve completed the program. Each survey will take about 10 20 minutes and asks
           about their smoking habits and views on smoking and quitting. Each survey will be sent
           by email, with reminders sent by email or telephone.

        -  Participants will receive an iTunes or Amazon gift card for completing each survey
           honestly.
    

Detailed description: 
      This study seeks to assess the effectiveness of the QuitTXT program, a text message cessation
      intervention designed for young adult smokers ages 18-29. The QuitTXT program is a component
      of a larger web-based tobacco cessation intervention resource provided by the National Cancer
      Institute. The program focuses on providing actionable strategies and fact based information,
      serving as an engagement tool delivering two-way communication, and delivering intra- and
      extra-treatment support. The structure of the QuitTXT program is designed as a 14-day
      countdown to quit date with subsequent six weeks of messages. Throughout the program, users
      will receive texts that cover a variety of content areas including tips, informational
      content, motivational messaging, and keyword responses.

      The study seeks to recruit a large sample of young adult smokers ages 18-29 to examine how
      exposure to the QuitTXT program affects participants.

      There will be 3-arms to the study:

      Participants in Arm 1, the control group of the study, will only receive the weekly
      assessments asking them of their smoking status.

      Participants in Arm 2 will receive a texting program that consists of up to two weeks of
      countdown to quit messaging plus assessments messages that all groups receive for a total of
      8 weeks.

      Participants in Arm 3 will receive the full text messaging program.

      All groups will be able to select a quit date within a 7-day window (between 2 and 3 weeks
      after they complete the baseline survey). Participants in Arm 3 will receive
      motivational/informational messages while participants in group 1 will receive only
      assessment messages. Participants in Arm 2 will receive the countdown messages to their quit
      date, but not the motivational messaging after their quit date. Like Arm 1, they will only
      receive assessment messages after their quit date.

      This study will add unique value to the existing literature by teasing out the effect of some
      messages vs. frequent, motivational/informational messaging on quit rates and intent to quit
      among young adults.
    

Intervention name(s): QuitTXT Study; Low Contact
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Assess the efficacy of a 6-8 week text message program to help young adults quit smoking.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Smoking Cessation Clinical Trial; Text Messaging Program; Smoking Cessation Aid