Effect of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Smoking Satisfaction
Condition: Cancer
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Female and male smokers will complete questionnaires and smoking behavior will be examined.
      After abstaining from smoking for approximately 18 hours, they will be randomized to a
      moderate intensity exercise groups or passive sitting group. Smoking satisfaction and smoking
      behavior will be assessed following treatment.

      The hypotheses detailed below are specific to the randomization of participants into the
      following 2 groups:

        1. Moderate exercise (Experimental condition; MEG)

        2. Passive sitting (Attention control condition; PSG)

      Hypothesis 1: A bout of moderate intensity exercise will be associated with decreased smoking
      satisfaction after a temporary period of abstinence compared to a control condition.

      Hypothesis 2: Smoking topographic measures will mediate the relationship between a bout of
      moderate intensity exercise and smoking satisfaction.
    

Detailed description: 
      Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canadians (Canadian Cancer Society (CCS),
      2010). Cigarette smoking is responsible for 85% of these cases (CCS, 2007). Exercise has been
      shown to be an effective adjunct to pharmacological cessation strategies (Ussher, Taylor, &
      Faulkner, 2008). A recent systematic review concluded that a single bout of low to moderate
      intensity exercise can help regulate cravings, withdrawal symptoms and negative affect
      associated with quitting (Taylor, Ussher, & Faulkner, 2007).

      Smoking satisfaction is an immediately reinforcing effect of nicotine. Smoking satisfaction
      may outweigh the temporally distant adverse health risks of smoking (Cappelleri, Bushmakin,
      Baker, Merikle, Olufade, & Gilbert, 2007). Varenicline, an alpha 4-beta-2 nAChR partial
      agonist, mimics the effect of nicotine by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms (Coe et
      al., 2005). A 12-week treatment period of varenicline has been shown to reduce smoking
      satisfaction (Jorenby et al., 2006). However, the effect of acute exercise on smoking
      satisfaction is not yet known.

      Smoking topography is a key facet of smoking behaviour. Smoking behaviour can be subjectively
      or objectively measured by quantifying puff volume, maximum puff velocity, inter-puff
      interval, puff duration, number of puffs per cigarette and time to smoke a single cigarette.
      Smoking topography can estimate exposure to carcinogenic toxins present in cigarette smoking
      (Djordjevic, Hoffman, & Hoffman, 1997). Evidence exists to support that exercise modifies
      smoking topography (Katomeri & Taylor 2006; Mikhail, 1983; Reeser, 1983; Zacny & Stitzer,
      1985).
    

Intervention name(s): Moderate Exercise Group; Passive Sitting Group
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants will be required to walk briskly (equivalent to moderate intensity) on a treadmill for 10 minutes.; Participants will be required to sit passively on a chair for 10 minutes.
Other intervention name(s): Physical activity; Sedentary
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: exercise; smoking satisfaction; topography; cravings