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

HIV has transformed into a chronic illness due to the advent of effective treatments in the absence of a cure. As a result, the prevalence of non-AIDS defining cancers (NADCs), including lung cancer, has increased three-fold among people living with HIV. NADCs now account for 50% of all cancers among the people. Smoking is one of the major contributing factors to lung cancer and smoking prevalence is substantially higher in this population than the general U.S. population. Smoking prevalence does not differ by gender among people living with HIV. Women of color, particularly African American women represent the majority of women living with HIV (WLHIV) followed by Latinas. WLHIV smoke at a rate almost 3 times higher than that for the general U.S. female population (e.g., 42% vs. 16%). The proposed study has two phases: 1) the development of a storytelling narrative communication (SNC) intervention that will be added to an established HIV-tailored smoking cessation intervention and 2) a two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the HIV-tailored intervention plus the SNC Intervention compared with the HIV-tailored intervention only. The investigators will develop narrative videos with three to five WLHIV who will be talking about their personal struggles with smoking and success in quitting. Preliminary study revealed that the established HIV-tailored intervention was effective only for short-term (≤ 2 months) abstinence. Many relapsed to smoking between the 2nd and 6th month of quitting. The investigators propose that the SNC intervention will be an effective strategy to sustain their quit efforts for long-term abstinence (≥ 6 months). A total of 60 WLHIV will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental arm (a combination of HIV-tailored and SNC interventions) or the control arm (HIV-tailored intervention only). Specific aims of the study are to 1) Identify SNC intervention components that are rated high in transport and identification for use as an enhancement to an HIV-tailored smoking cessation intervention; 2) Determine the feasibility and acceptability of the SNC intervention for WLHIV by assessing the rate of recruitment and retention for feasibility and the degree of transport and identification for acceptability; and 3) Establish an effect size of HIV-tailored and SNC interventions for smoking cessation in comparison with the HIV-tailored smoking cessation intervention only for WLHIV, for subsequent grant applications.

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.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

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.

Exclusion Criteria:

Women who:

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 Test59)
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.