Quit4Life+: Adapting and Evaluating a Phone-Based Tobacco Use Cessation Program for People Living With HIV in Uganda and Zambia (Quit4Life+ )

While there is substantial evidence supporting interventions to help tobacco users in the general population quit, little is available relevant to the challenges facing HIV+ tobacco users, especially those living in low-income African countries. This study approaches this gap with the first randomized control trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of a tailored short message service (SMS) based tobacco use cessation intervention on prolonged tobacco use abstinence at 6 months post program initiation in comparison to the standard of care (brief advice to quit) and nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches) among PLWH in Uganda and Zambia. This study will provide insight into the efficacy, feasibility, applicability, and affordability of delivering tobacco cessation interventions through health care professionals at HIV treatment centers in two countries with different tobacco use patterns, policy environments, and health care resources and provide needed information to providers and policymakers looking for cost-effective tobacco cessation interventions.