Creating an online program to help young adults reduce e-cigarette use and smoking risk
Official title: Development of an online, theory-based intervention to reduce e-cigarette use and susceptibility to smoking in young adults: A pilot study
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11031379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly online program for young adults aged 18-22 to help them cut down on e-cigarette use and avoid smoking by providing helpful information and support through their phones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $185,723 |
| NIH project number | 5K01DA056699-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young adults aged 18-22 who currently use e-cigarettes or are at risk of starting to smoke.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 22 or do not use e-cigarettes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop an online intervention specifically designed for young adults aged 18-22 to reduce e-cigarette use and the risk of smoking. The program will be accessible via mobile devices and will focus on correcting misperceptions about social norms and the harms associated with vaping and smoking. By utilizing personalized feedback and motivational interviewing techniques, the intervention seeks to engage participants and encourage behavior change. The effectiveness of this approach will be evaluated through a longitudinal study involving approximately 2,200 young adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly decrease e-cigarette use and smoking initiation among young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that online interventions targeting smoking behaviors can be effective, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tran, Denise Dao — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Tran, Denise Dao
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.