Using Alternative Nicotine Delivery Systems (ANDS) to Reduce Harm for Low SES Cigarette Smokers. (Tri-PEC Study)

This study investigates whether providing 8 weeks of complimentary electronic cigarettes (EC) or nicotine pouches (NP) to low socioeconomic status (SES) adults who smoke and are unable or unwilling to quit smoking will lead to: a) substitution of cigarette smoking with EC or NP; and b) reduced biological indicators of tobacco use and harm relative to those continuing to smoke as usual. This study also examines the feasibility and acceptability of providing EC or NP to help substitution of combustible cigarettes, exploring willingness to participate, continuing with the study, and barriers to substitution through interviews. This project will enroll 45 low SES adults who smoke and will be randomized to one of the three groups that will be followed for 8 weeks: EC, NP, or smoking as usual. At the start of the study, participants will provide informed consent; biological indicators and self-report measures will be collected; and participants will be randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups. Participants in the EC or NP groups will be allowed to experiment with EC or NP flavors prior to receiving an adequate supply of the product to fully substitute combustible smoking for four weeks. Participants in these two groups will also receive encouragement to fully switch from cigarettes to EC or NP. Participants will have 3 in-person visits (baseline, week 4, week 8) and 4 phone visits (weeks 1, 3, 7, and 16). At the week 4 in-person visit, participants will receive a second four-week product supply. Participants will also receive ongoing encouragement to fully substitute with EC or NPs whenever participants would normally smoke. Biomarkers and self-report measures will be reassessed at the Week 8 visit after which participants will complete a debriefing interview. Participants will complete a final report at Week 16.

The first study hypothesis is that participants receiving EC or NP will smoke fewer cigarettes per day and have lower cigarette dependence at Week 8 relative to their baseline level, and when compared to the control group. The second hypothesis is that those in the EC or NP group will have greater cigarette abstinence than those smoking as usual at Week 8. There are no anticipated differences between those receiving EC and NP. The third hypothesis is that biological indicators of tobacco use and harm will be lower in those receiving EC or NP relative to their baseline level, and when compared to the control group. The hypothesis is that these biological indicators will be lower in those receiving NP than EC.