MedPath

Effects of E-cigs vs Pouches on Cigarette Smoking and Addiction

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Nicotine Dependence
Smoking
Smoking Behaviors
Interventions
Behavioral: Tobacco Pouches with 3mg Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco Flavors
Behavioral: E-cigarette with 2.4% Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco Flavors
Behavioral: E-cigarette with 2.4% Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor Only
Behavioral: Tobacco Pouches with 3mg Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor Only
Behavioral: E-cigarette with 5% Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco Flavors
Behavioral: Tobacco Pouches with 6mg Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco Flavors
Behavioral: E-cigarette with 5% Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor Only
Behavioral: Tobacco Pouches with 6mg Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor Only
Registration Number
NCT06077240
Lead Sponsor
Yale University
Brief Summary

The study will recruit an anticipated 256 adults who currently smoke cigarettes and report a willingness to try switching to alternative, non-combustible products. Participants will be randomized to receive either e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (5% e-cig, 6mg pouch) or lower (2.4% e-cig, 3mg pouch). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. Participants will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided. The investigators expect to observe which products and constituents lead to greater smoking reduction.

Detailed Description

The study includes 5 visit and assessments over 6 weeks. The intake visit will take approximately 60 minutes and subsequent visits will take approximately 30 minutes. The study is proposed to run for 5 years.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
256
Inclusion Criteria
  • 21+ years old
  • English literate
  • Currently smoking cigarettes, biochemically confirmed
  • Not planning a smoking cessation attempt or to use smoking cessation pharmacotherapies (NRT, bupropion, varenicline) in the next month.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Currently using any smoking cessation services and/or pharmacotherapies
  • Currently pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Significant current medical or psychiatric condition
  • Known hypersensitivity to propylene glycol.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
E-cigarettesE-cigarette with 2.4% Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor OnlyAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive e-cigarettes for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (5% e-cig) or lower (2.4% e-cig). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
Nicotine PouchesTobacco Pouches with 3mg Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco FlavorsAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive nicotine pouches for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (6mg pouch) or lower (3mg pouch). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
Nicotine PouchesTobacco Pouches with 3mg Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor OnlyAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive nicotine pouches for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (6mg pouch) or lower (3mg pouch). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
E-cigarettesE-cigarette with 2.4% Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco FlavorsAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive e-cigarettes for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (5% e-cig) or lower (2.4% e-cig). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
E-cigarettesE-cigarette with 5% Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor OnlyAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive e-cigarettes for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (5% e-cig) or lower (2.4% e-cig). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
E-cigarettesE-cigarette with 5% Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco FlavorsAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive e-cigarettes for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (5% e-cig) or lower (2.4% e-cig). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
Nicotine PouchesTobacco Pouches with 6mg Nicotine with Tobacco Flavor OnlyAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive nicotine pouches for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (6mg pouch) or lower (3mg pouch). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
Nicotine PouchesTobacco Pouches with 6mg Nicotine with Menthol and Tobacco FlavorsAdults who smoke cigarettes will be randomized to receive nicotine pouches for a duration of 4 weeks and to 1 of 4 possible regulatory scenarios within products where flavor availability is either menthol and tobacco/unflavored available or tobacco/unflavored only available, and nicotine concentration is either higher (6mg pouch) or lower (3mg pouch). Participants will return for bi-weekly research visits (in person or remote videocall) to complete measures for study aims. They will complete a final follow-up at Week 6 to assess maintenance of cigarette reduction and willingness to continue using products once they are no longer provided.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Aim 1: Average number of cigarettes smoked per dayFrom baseline to week 4

Participants will report the total number of cigarettes consumed each day using a well-validated timeline follow-back (TLFB) interview method to assess number of cigarettes smoked per day continuously over the 4-week observational period for each product condition.

Aim 2: Percent of days using non-combustible productFrom baseline to week 4

Participants will report daily use of e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches using a well-validated timeline follow-back (TLFB) interview method continuously over the 4-week observational period to determine the total percent days use of the non-combustible product for each product condition.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Aim 1: Percent of days abstinent from cigarettesFrom baseline to week 4

Participants will report the total number of cigarettes consumed each day using a well-validated timeline follow-back (TLFB) interview method to assess number of cigarettes smoked per day continuously over the 4-week observational period to determine the total percent days abstinent (smoke-free) for each product condition.

Aim 1: Biochemically verified 7 day point-prevalent abstinence from cigarettesWeek 4

Complete switching from cigarettes will be assessed at the end of the study period using self-reported TLFB methods and biochemical verification with expired breath carbon monoxide (CO) testing (CO \< 5ppm) to determine rates of 7-day point-prevalent abstinence

Aim 2: Average use of non-combustible products per dayFrom baseline to week 4

Participants will report daily e-cigarette and nicotine pouch quantity and frequency consumed using a well-validated timeline follow-back (TLFB) interview method to use continuously over the 4-week observational period for each product condition.

Aim 2: Continued use of non-combustible productsWeek 4 to 6

Participants will report daily use of e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches using a well-validated timeline follow-back (TLFB) interview method to determine the total percent days use of the non-combustible product for each product condition during the follow-up period.

Aim 1: Cigarette DependenceFrom baseline to week 4

Cigarette dependence will be measured using the 4-item PROMISĀ® Short Form v1.0 - Smoking Nicotine Dependence for All Smokers 4a. Each item is scored from 1-5 with the range of scores from 4-20 with higher scores representing greater cigarette dependence.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Yale University

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New Haven, Connecticut, United States

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