Harm-reduction program for people with HIV who smoke cigarettes
Trial of a harm reduction strategy for people with HIV who smoke cigarettes
People with HIV who smoke will get an online quit program and medications and will be randomly assigned to either extra harm-reduction support (cutting down, lung CT screening help, and heart-health referrals) or usual care to try to reduce smoking and related risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323518 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, everyone receives an intensive online smoking-cessation program combined with proven medications. Half of participants are randomly assigned to get an informational video about cutting down, help from a patient navigator to arrange low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening if eligible, and referral to a Cardiometabolic Clinic for blood pressure and cholesterol management, while the other half receive usual follow-up. The study will enroll 400 people with HIV at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and follow participants to track cigarettes per day, screening completion, blood pressure, and cholesterol changes. Results will show whether adding harm-reduction services increases screening and improves smoking and cardiometabolic outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with HIV who currently smoke cigarettes and can attend care at or near Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx and meet age and smoking-history criteria for screening are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who have already quit, who are ineligible for lung screening based on age or smoking history, or who cannot engage with an online program or local follow-up may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help many people with HIV who smoke cut down or quit, find lung cancer earlier when treatable, and improve blood pressure and cholesterol control.
How similar studies have performed: Behavioral plus pharmacologic cessation programs have helped some smokers quit, but combining harm-reduction counseling with LDCT screening and cardiometabolic referrals specifically for people with HIV is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shuter, Jonathan — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Shuter, Jonathan
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.