Digital financial-incentives support for quitting smoking during pregnancy
Official title: Examining a Digital Perinatal Smoking-Cessation Intervention
Funded at University of Vermont & St Agric College · NIH-11308970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital program uses financial incentives to help pregnant people quit smoking, especially in clinics with limited access to care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $732,462 |
| NIH project number | 1UG3DA065232-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals who smoke and are receiving prenatal care, especially in clinics with limited access to cessation services.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant smokers who do not have access to smartphones or who do not engage with digital incentives may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant tests a smartphone-based incentive program designed to help pregnant people stop smoking, built to work alongside best-practice maternity care. It compares the digital incentive approach plus standard care to standard care alone in a multi-state setting. The study aims to see if the digital program increases quit rates and is cost-effective, with attention to rural and underserved clinics. The project is led by the University of Vermont and the State Agricultural College, collaborating with DynamiCare Health to deliver the digital intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lead to higher quit rates among pregnant smokers and reduce pregnancy complications linked to smoking.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials showed that combining incentives with best practices increased quit rates; UK implementation signals real-world feasibility.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Burlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Higgins, Stephen T — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Higgins, Stephen T
Related research
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A peer-led program with eight group sessions plus nicotine replacement therapy is tested on adults living in public housing to help them quit smoking.
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.