A smartphone app designed to help African American smokers quit smoking

Identifying the Barriers and Facilitators of Participation in mHealth Research Among African Americans Using a Mixed-Methods Approach.

This study is testing a smartphone app designed to help African American smokers quit smoking by providing support and rewards during their quit journey.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Oklahoma (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
• Trial ID: NCT05188287 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This research aims to develop a culturally tailored smartphone application called HealthyCells to assist African American smokers in quitting smoking. The app integrates existing evidence-based interventions and includes culturally relevant content to address specific barriers faced by this population. Participants will use the app during a scheduled quit attempt, receiving prompts for smoking status assessments and rewards for abstinence. The study will evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the app in promoting smoking cessation and reducing sedentary behavior among African Americans.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are African American adults aged 18 and older who smoke at least 5 cigarettes per day and are willing to quit within the next 3 weeks.

Not a fit: Patients who do not identify as Black/African American or those who do not smoke tobacco products will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this app could significantly improve smoking cessation rates among African American smokers, thereby reducing health disparities.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been successful studies using smartphone interventions for smoking cessation, this culturally tailored approach specifically for African Americans is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Study Inclusion Criteria

* Must be 18 years of age or older
* Must identify as Black/African-American
* Must smoke at least 5 cigarettes or cigarette equivalents per day (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos)
* Must be willing to use NRT, a smartphone watch and app, and a smoking cessation counselor to help them quit smoking
* Must be willing to quit smoking within the next 3 weeks
* Must have a CO level of \>6 ppm at app activation.
* Are not currently active, defined as engaging in less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., running or jogging) each week?

Study Exclusion Criteria

* Does not give permission to administer screening survey
* Does not understand or speak English
* Is not a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
* Does not use tobacco products
* Does not want to provide SSN, residency status, or OUHSC employee status
* Is not willing to abstain from smoking marijuana or cannabis during their quit attempt
* Is not willing to upload a picture of their tobacco product
* Is not ready to quit smoking as defined by scoring 4 or lower on the readiness to quit ladder
* Has a medical condition that prevents the use of NRT without approval from a healthcare provider
* Has had a serious allergic reaction or side effect from the use of NRT
* Does not give permission to collect contact information
* Must not be currently active, defined as engaging in less than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (e.g., running or jogging) each week.

Where this trial is running

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• TSET Health Promotion Research Center — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Adam C Alexander, PhD

Conditions: Smoking Cessation