Flavored cigarillos and young adults' smoking perceptions in real-world settings.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Appeal and Preference for Flavored Little Cigars/Cigarillos: A Multi-Method Approach to Inform Tobacco Policy

This project will test whether different cigarillo flavors change taste, enjoyment, puffing behavior, and buying choices in young adults who use cigarillos.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 190 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 34 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Oklahoma (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
• Trial ID: NCT06668350 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multi-method project enrolls young adults aged 18–34 who smoke little cigars or cigarillos to compare three flavor types: concept, characterizing, and tobacco. Participants complete laboratory sessions after brief nicotine abstinence where researchers measure subjective responses (taste, enjoyment, satisfaction), observe actual smoking behavior (number of puffs), and record purchasing choices using a simulated experimental tobacco marketplace. The study excludes current NRT users, pregnant individuals, those with significant heart disease, and people who prefer the study brand; participants must be U.S. residents and able to read English. Data will be used to quantify how flavoring influences product appeal and simulated market demand.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are U.S. residents aged 18–34 who currently smoke little cigars or cigarillos some days or every day, have at least one prior experience with flavored tobacco, can read English, and have no immediate plans to quit.

Not a fit: People unlikely to benefit include non-smokers, users of other tobacco products who don't smoke cigarillos, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, those using nicotine-replacement therapy, or people with serious cardiovascular or smoking-related illnesses.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help regulators and public-health programs reduce the appeal of flavored cigarillos and lower tobacco use among young adults.

How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and experimental marketplace studies have shown that flavors increase tobacco product appeal and influence purchasing choices, so this approach builds on existing evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Ages18 to 34
* Smoke a little cigar or cigarillo (LCCs) "some days" or "everyday" (verified by brand name of the product);
* Ability to read English at an 8th grade level or higher; and
* No immediate plans to quit using tobacco
* \> 1 prior experience, even 1 puff, with a flavored tobacco product
* U.S. Citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or stop smoking medication;
* Pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding;
* Past or current self-reported clinically significant heart disease or hypertension, or other smoking-related disease (by history) that preclude successful study completion;
* Inability to abstain from nicotine/tobacco products for at least 12 hours prior to lab sessions
* Report using the study cigarillo brand as their preferred brand (as this will likely unduly influence their perceptions)
* Unwillingness to use "untipped" (e.g., plastic or wood tip) little cigars/cigarillos.

Where this trial is running

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Project Manager

Conditions Cigarillo Flavor