Videogame-based Incentives for Smoking Cessation

Not Applicable

Terminated

• Conditions: Smoking Cessation
• Interventions: Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

• Registration Number: NCT01761760
• Lead Sponsor: Rowan University

Brief Summary

Investigators will be evaluating an online video-game-based smoking cessation intervention that will overcome barriers to treatment such as cost and sustainability. This videogame will be the first of its kind, based on an evidence-based intervention shown to promote smoking abstinence. The findings from this research will be of great public health significance because of the unprecedented reach and relatively low cost, as well as the potential for similar interventions to be developed for other health problems, such as alcohol or drug abuse and medication adherence for chronic illnesses

Detailed Description

Cigarette smoking remains the number one cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the U.S. A number of barriers have been noted that prevent access to smoking cessation interventions, such as lack of clinician training, the time commitment required to implement treatments, and the costs associated with treatment. Thus, it is critically important that more effective interventions be developed, and be made accessible at a relatively low cost, to smokers. We recently developed an Internet-based Contingency Management Intervention (CM),, where participants submit web-camera recorded videos as they exhale into a CO monitor, and they earn money for abstinence. Although the costs associated with providing monetary incentives contingent on smoking abstinence are likely to be less than the costs associated with medical complications caused by smoking, the cost of incentives is often cited as a barrier to CM. Thus, the goals of the present proposal are to markedly decrease costs and increase sustainability of this highly accessible Internet-based CM for smoking cessation.

Using an iterative development process with the help of a team of experts, a social strategy video game intended to be fun and engaging will be developed for Facebook ("Quitters, Incorporated"). Treatment-seeking smokers will be able to earn incentives contingent on meeting web-camera verified CO values consistent with smoking abstinence. Three powerful, evidence-based incentives will be harnessed in this CM. The incentives will consist of: (1) individual contingencies that can be used to improve game play, (2) social contingencies, such as positive feedback and virtual rewards, that can be given to other players to acknowledge their success with abstinence and improve their game play, and (3) group contingencies that will require all members of a group to meet abstinence goals in order to unlock access to certain game features. After game development, we will assess the feasibility, acceptability, enjoyability, and preliminary efficacy of video-game-based CM for smoking cessation. A 7-week pilot study will involve randomly assigning participants (N=100) to either: (1) abstinent contingent, where incentives will be delivered contingent on quitting smoking, or (2) submission contingent, where incentives will be delivered contingent on submitting videos, but independent of quitting smoking.

The outcomes of the pilot study will impact future research in the development of video-game-based CM interventions for smoking, as well as for alcohol and other drug use, and medication compliance in diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. Game-based CM will promote widespread access to this innovative, fun, sustainable intervention at a relatively low cost (the game will be available to play for free), thereby offering the potential to have a substantial public health impact.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2012-12-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-01-03
• Study First Posted: 2013-01-07
• Study Start: 2017-05-08
• Primary Completion: 2018-07-30
• Study Completion: 2018-07-30
• Status Verified: 2019-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-04-24
• Last Update Posted: 2019-04-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years or older
• smoking 10+ cigarettes per day
• smoking for 2+ years
• currently wishes to quit smoking
• has a computer at home with Internet access
• U.S. citizen
• literate

Exclusion Criteria

• smoking other substances (e.g., marijuana, cigars) > 2 times per month
• unstable medical or psychiatric condition that might interfere with the program
• living with someone who smokes in the home
• a job that exposes the person to excessive ambient carbon monoxide

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Contingent	Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention	Patients will earn game-based incentives contingent on meeting carbon monoxide goals. Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention
Non-contingent	Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention	Patients will earn game-based incentives independent of meeting carbon monoxide goals. Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Sustained smoking abstinence	7 weeks	Sustained abstinence will be collected via self-report

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-reports of smoking status, videogame activity, physical and mental health	7 weeks	Patients will complete surveys on-line that ask questions regarding smoking status (how many cigarettes smoked per day), videogame activity (how much time is spent playing videogames), psychosocial health (e.g., physical health, mental health).
Carbon monoxide in parts per million collected via a carbon monoxide monitor and submitted over a secure website via a web-camera recorded video.	7 weeks	Carbon monoxide will be collected using a carbon monoxide monitor and submitted via. throughout the study to verify smoking abstinence.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Rowan University; 🇺🇸 Glassboro, New Jersey, United States