Text Messaging-Based Smoking Cessation Program for Homeless Youth

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Cigarette Smoking
• Interventions: Behavioral: Group counseling and nicotine replacement; Behavioral: Group counseling, nicotine replacement, and text messaging support

• Registration Number: NCT03874585
• Lead Sponsor: RAND

Brief Summary

Unaccompanied homeless youth smoke at much higher rates than non-homeless adolescents and young adults. Many homeless youth smokers are motivated to quit; yet, strategies specifically developed for this vulnerable population are lacking. This study will develop and pilot test a text messaging intervention (also known as a TMI) to help homeless youth quit smoking. Text messaging can provide ongoing support for homeless youth during a quit attempt, which is important given that these youth tend to be highly mobile and lack regular access to health services. Participants in this study will be homeless youth who currently smoke and are motivated to quit smoking. All participants will receive a 30-minute group-based smoking cessation counseling session and a nicotine replacement product. Half of these smokers will also receive the TMI, for 6 weeks following the group counseling session, which will provide ongoing support for quitting. The main goal of this study is to investigate whether receiving the TMI results in greater reductions in cigarette smoking over a 3-month period compared to receiving the group counseling session alone.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-03-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-03-12
• Study First Posted: 2019-03-14
• Study Start: 2019-05-30
• Primary Completion: 2020-05-21
• Study Completion: 2020-05-21
• Status Verified: 2020-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-07-20
• Last Update Posted: 2020-07-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 77

Inclusion Criteria

• between ages of 18-25
• seeking services at one of the participating drop-in centers for homeless youth
• smoked at least 5 cigarettes per day on at least 20 days in the past month
• motivated to quit in next 30 days
• has a cell phone to receive text messages and willing to receive text messages

Exclusion Criteria

• currently pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed in the next 6 months
• has a medical condition (based on self-report) which would prevent using the nicotine replacement product
• used pharmacotherapy to reduce or stop smoking in the past 30 days
• currently receiving other smoking cessation services

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Standard Condition	Group counseling and nicotine replacement	Participants in the standard condition will receive a 30-minute group-based smoking cessation counseling session based on the 5 A's approach (Ask; Advise; Assess; Assist; Arrange) and free nicotine replacement.
Enhanced Condition	Group counseling, nicotine replacement, and text messaging support	Participants in the standard condition will receive a 30-minute group-based smoking cessation counseling session based on the 5 A's approach (Ask; Advise; Assess; Assist; Arrange), free nicotine replacement, and the 6-week text messaging intervention.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
7 day abstinence	7 days	Participants will self-report whether they have smoked any cigarettes in the past 7 days. Self-reported abstinence will be biochemically verified.
90 day continuous abstinence	90 days	Participants will self-report whether they have smoked any cigarettes between baseline and 3-month follow-up

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Los Angeles LGBT Center Youth Center; 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, United States

My Friend's Place; 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, United States

Safe Place for Youth; 🇺🇸 Venice, California, United States