E-cigarette harm-reduction option for cancer outpatients who decline standard tobacco treatment
A Novel Harm Reduction Approach for Oncology Outpatients who Smoke and Refuse Traditional Tobacco Treatment
This project offers e-cigarettes to cancer outpatients who smoke and refuse usual quit programs to help them switch from cigarettes and lower exposure to harmful chemicals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11239027 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a cancer outpatient who smokes and has declined standard tobacco treatment, you could be invited to join this trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive an e-cigarette switching approach or the usual care resources offered by the clinic. The team will track who switches from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, measure markers of smoke exposure, and study what makes this approach easier or harder to use in cancer care. The goal is to find a practical harm-reduction option for patients who will not engage with traditional quitting treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adult oncology outpatients who currently smoke cigarettes and explicitly refuse all components of standard tobacco treatment are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients who already accept traditional tobacco treatment, who cannot or choose not to use e-cigarettes, or who continue smoking without switching are unlikely to gain benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce patients' exposure to cigarette-related carcinogens and lower smoking-related harms for those who refuse standard quitting programs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research indicates switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes can lower exposure to many harmful chemicals, but long-term benefits and effectiveness specifically in cancer patients are still uncertain.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rojewski, Alana — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Rojewski, Alana
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 below.