Helping rural smokers quit by providing free nicotine replacement therapy
Official title: Evaluating Population-Based Strategies for Rural Smoking Cessation
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11091729 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help people in rural areas quit smoking by giving them free starter kits for nicotine replacement therapy and teaching them how to use it, all through online resources, so they can get the support they need even if they don’t often visit doctors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | November 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $694,771 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MD020559-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091729 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in rural areas who smoke and have limited access to smoking cessation resources.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not smoke or those who have access to comprehensive smoking cessation programs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to address the high rates of smoking among people living in rural areas by providing them with free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) starter kits along with education on their use. The study will evaluate how effective this approach is in helping rural smokers quit, especially since they often have limited access to healthcare services. By utilizing digital platforms for education, the research seeks to reach those who may not regularly visit healthcare providers. The goal is to create a sustainable model that local health departments and organizations can adopt to improve smoking cessation rates in these communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase smoking cessation rates among rural populations, leading to improved health outcomes and reduced smoking-related deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in providing free NRT starter kits, but this approach's effectiveness in rural settings remains to be fully evaluated.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carroll, Dana Mowls — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Carroll, Dana Mowls
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This grant looks at how daily social stress affects if and when disadvantaged young adults who smoke can quit and stay quit.
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I-STOP: a mobile health program to help people with HIV quit smoking
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Mobile tools to understand how sleep affects quitting smoking
This project uses a smartphone to track sleep and smoking in lower-income adults trying to quit to find how sleep patterns relate to staying smoke-free.
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Integrated approach to lung screening and quitting for African Americans
A multi-level program aims to boost LDCT lung cancer screening uptake and help African American smokers quit, with support from a comprehensive community-focused plan.
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Peer-led smoking-cessation program for public housing residents
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.