Episodic Future Thinking to Help People Quit Smoking
Official title: Generalized and Domain-Specific Episodic Thinking for Smoking Cessation: An 8-Week Pilot and Feasibility Trial
Run by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · NCT07158749 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing different ways of imagining future health benefits to help daily cigarette smokers quit, especially in rural and urban communities.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 21 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 134 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Roanoke, Virginia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 25, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 2027 |
| Study ends | June 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07158749 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults who smoke daily for at least the past 30 days, have salivary cotinine above 30 ng/mL, and plan to quit within 30 days.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals not planning to quit soon or with contraindications to nicotine replacement therapy may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This project tests several versions of episodic future thinking, a visualization technique intended to make future health benefits of quitting more tangible. It compares generalized and domain-specific approaches to see which best supports smoking cessation in adults who smoke daily and plan to quit. The study will evaluate feasibility and preliminary efficacy across diverse geographic settings, including rural and urban populations. Leadership is provided by Virginia Tech with collaboration from NCI and Roswell Park, and the research will be conducted at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke, VA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could offer a scalable way to increase quit rates by strengthening motivation tied to future health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that interventions that highlight future outcomes can influence health behaviors, but this specific EFT/ERT domain-targeted approach for smoking cessation is exploratory.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * smoked cigarettes daily for the last 30 days; * salivary cotinine \> 30 ng/mL, consistent with tobacco use; * plan to quit smoking in the next 30 days Exclusion Criteria: * prior diagnosis with a smoking-related illness (e.g., respiratory disease); * past 30-day use any smoking cessation treatment; * anxiety or mood disorders; and * medical contraindications for use of nicotine replacement therapy (e.g. pregnancy).
Where it's running
-
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
Roanoke, Virginia, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeffrey Stein, PhD — Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Study coordinator: Jeffrey Stein, PhD
- Email: jstein1@vtc.vt.edu
- Phone: 15405262124
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.