A Mobile App Based Cognitive Dissonance Intervention for Smoking Cessation

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
This research study aims to develop a cognitive dissonance-based mobile app for smoking cessation (CoQuit) and test the efficacy of the app with 500 adult smokers who express a desire to quit smoking.

Detailed Description
-----------------
This research project will evaluate the CoQuit mobile app for smoking cessation by having 500 daily adult smokers recruited through social media and randomized to either the CoQuit app or an app that has similar content but no tasks for inducing cognitive dissonance among participants. Outcomes will be measured at 1- and 3-months post-baseline and will include quit attempts, number of days without smoking (smokefree days), and changes in smoking attitudes and behavior, and smoking abstinence. Usability data, system log data on program use, and participant satisfaction data will also be analyzed. The researchers hypothesize that individuals using the cognitive dissonance intervention (CDI) will show greater increases in quit attempts, smoke free days, quit rates, and positive smoking attitudes and behaviors than individuals in the active comparison condition. The researchers will test whether gender, smoking dependence, readiness to quit, previous quit attempts, age of smoking initiation, and socio-economic status moderate intervention effects on smoking outcomes.

Official Title
-----------------
A Mobile App Based Cognitive Dissonance Intervention for Smoking Cessation

Conditions
-----------------
Tobacco Use

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Behavioral: CoQuit App - Cognitive Dissonance Based Smoking Cessation + Smoking Cessation Tips
* Behavioral: Tips for Smoking Cessation App


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 or older Self-reported daily smoking Having a valid home mailing address in the United States English-speaking Access to a smartphone with video capability for the duration of the project Expressed desire to quit smoking Exclusion criteria: • Currently participating in a tobacco cessation program

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This study will recruit 500 daily adult smokers through social media to test the CoQuit app for smoking cessation. Participants will be randomly assigned in equal numbers to either the CoQuit app or an app that has similar content but no tasks for inducing cognitive dissonance among participants.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: CoQuit App - Cognitive Dissonance Based Smoking Cessation<br>This group will receive daily smoking cessation tips and will be asked to complete activities within the app that are designed to induce cognitive dissonance, create and share videos related to the activities with an online group, and provide support to other group members | Behavioral: CoQuit App - Cognitive Dissonance Based Smoking Cessation + Smoking Cessation Tips<br>* CoQuit App (Cognitive Dissonance Based Smoking Cessation) Use of the CoQuit app, completion of cognitive dissonance activities, sharing of videos with online group, and providing support to other group members<br>|
| Active Comparator: Comparison App - Smoking Cessation Support without Cognitive Dissonance Activities<br>This group will use an app that consists of tips for quitting cigarettes but does not include the cognitive dissonance component. | Behavioral: Tips for Smoking Cessation App<br>* App containing daily tips for smoking cessation<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tobacco Use Questionnaire | Change frequency of tobacco use from baseline to 3 months. | Baseline, 1-month, 3-month | 
| Fagerstrom Tobacco Dependence Scale | Change in nicotine dependence from baseline to 3 months. This is a 6 item measure. Total scores range from 0 to 10 points with higher scores indicating higher levels of dependence. | Baseline, 1-month, 3-month | 
| Contemplation Ladder | Change in motivation to quit smoking. This measure is a single ten point scale arranged as a ladder with descriptions of readiness to quit for 5 levels; higher scores indicate higher readiness to quit. | Baseline, 1-month, 3-month | 
| Cognitive Dissonance Thermometer | Change in cognitive dissonance will be assessed using the Dissonance Thermometer, which measures participants' experience of 14 different feelings (e.g., embarrassed, optimistic) related to particular stimuli. Higher scores indicate higher levels of cognitive dissonance. | Baseline, 1-month, 3-month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Program Engagement | This measure will assess usage of CoQuit app. | 1-month, 3-month | 
| Consumer Satisfaction and Program Evaluation | The measure will assess the perceived ease of using the app and perceived benefit of the app. Some items will use a 7 point Likert scale to assess satisfaction with the mobile app and usability function of the app. | 3-month |