A healthbot to help people stick to their varenicline treatment for smoking cessation
Helping People Adhere to Their Varenicline Treatment by Co-creating a Conversational Agent: A Feasibility Study
This study is testing a new healthbot to help people stay on track with their varenicline treatment to quit smoking.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Toronto, Ontario) |
| Trial ID | NCT05997901 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This feasibility study aims to co-create and evaluate a patient-centered healthbot designed to improve adherence to varenicline, a medication used for smoking cessation. The study employs a user-centered approach, utilizing a three-phase framework: Discover, Design and Build, and Test. In the Discover phase, researchers will conduct literature reviews and interviews with both service users and healthcare providers to identify barriers to adherence and desired healthbot features. The healthbot will then be designed and tested to assess its effectiveness in improving medication adherence and smoking cessation outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are treatment-seeking smokers aged 18 and older who are willing to start varenicline and commit to a 12-week treatment plan.
Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have contraindications to varenicline will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this healthbot could significantly enhance medication adherence and support smoking cessation efforts for patients using varenicline.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of healthbots for medication adherence is an emerging field, similar studies have shown promise in improving patient outcomes, making this approach both innovative and relevant.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Treatment-seeking smokers who are willing to start taking varenicline and continue it for 12 weeks, and set a quit date in the next 30 days; * Smoke cigarettes daily (10 or more cigarettes a day) * Age ≥ 18 years; * Speak/read English; * Have a smartphone with data plan; * Report being committed to answering questions during follow-up; * Live in Ontario. Exclusion Criteria: * Have contraindication(s) to varenicline use; * Are pregnant/planning to become pregnant/breastfeeding; * Participated in the co-design phase.
Where this trial is running
Toronto, Ontario
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Nadia Minian, PhD — Camh
- Study coordinator: Nadia Minian, PhD
- Email: Nadia.Minian2@camh.ca
- Phone: 4165358501
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.