MedPath

Way to Quit - Comparative Efficacy, Acceptance and Effectiveness of Health Incentive Structures

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Tobacco Use Disorder
Registration Number
NCT01526265
Lead Sponsor
University of Pennsylvania
Brief Summary

Using the NIH-funded Way to Health platform, the investigators will conduct this smoking cessation randomized controlled trial (RCT) among CVS employees. The investigators will be able to determine the comparative and absolute efficacy and effectiveness of 4 different incentive structures that are each grounded in behavioral economic principles. Additionally, the investigators will measure rates of and reasons for acceptance of each incentive structure, and examine participant characteristics that modify the efficacy and acceptance of different incentive structures.

Detailed Description

Specific Aim I: Compare the efficacy and effectiveness of 4 financial incentive structures for improving "quit rates" (rates of prolonged smoking abstinence for 6 months): (a) individual financial rewards, (b) individual deposit contracts, (c) cooperative rewards, and (d) competitive deposit contracts

H1: Compared with usual care, all 4 incentive structures will increase quit rates significantly.

H2: Compared with individual financial rewards of equivalent size and schedule, individual deposit contracts, cooperative rewards, and competitive contracts will each increase quit rates significantly.

H3: Group-oriented structures will increase quit rates significantly more than individual-oriented structures.

Specific Aim II: Compare smokers' acceptance of these 4 financial incentive structures for smoking cessation

H4: Uptake rates of reward-based structures will be higher than of structures involving deposit contracts.

H5: Uptake rates of group-oriented structures will be higher than of individual-oriented structures.

Specific Aim III: Identify individual characteristics that modify incentive structures' efficacy and acceptance

H6: Incentives will promote relatively greater quit rates among participants with fewer substitute reinforcers.

H7: Incentives will promote relatively greater quit rates among participants with lower incomes.

H8: Higher-income persons will be relatively more likely to accept incentives requiring deposit contracts.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
2185
Inclusion Criteria
  • Active smoker of 5 cigarettes per day for at least 6 months;
  • At least 18 years old;
  • Current full- or part-time employee of CVS or be a family member or friend of a current full- or part-time employee of CVS.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Use a form of tobacco other than cigarettes while participating in the study (as this may influence biochemical testing);
  • Are unable or unwilling to access the internet;
  • Are unable to provide informed consent.
  • Due to the web-based nature of this study, people without reliable computer and internet access will also be excluded.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Salivary cotinine or anabasine testing (metabolites of nicotine)at 6 months following the patient selected target quit date.

The primary measure of smoking cessation will be prolonged abstinence for 6 months, which will be measured by salivary cotinine testing or by urinary anabasine testing (for those participants using nicotine replacement therapy). Saliva samples will be analyzed using semi-quantitative immunochromatographic assay test strips at the University of Pennsylvania. Urine samples will be analyzed using gas chromatography at the Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Lab, at the University of Utah.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Salivary cotinine or anabasine testing (metabolites of nicotine)at 14 and 30 days, and 6 months following the patient selected target quit date and relapse rate 12 months after the target quit date.

Another secondary outcome variable will be the proportion of participants achieving point prevalence abstinence at 14 days, 30 days, 6 months and 12 months after the quit date.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Pennsylvania

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Pennsylvania
🇺🇸Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.