Helping parents quit tobacco using children's biomarker testing

Assessment of Biomarkers in Children to Help Parents Quit Tobacco

Not applicable Interventional Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT04832659

This study is testing if showing parents their child's tobacco exposure through biomarker results can help them quit smoking more effectively.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment868 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cleveland, Ohio)
Trial IDNCT04832659 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This trial tests whether measuring cotinine levels in children can enhance a tobacco control intervention for parents. By providing pediatricians with biomarker results and personalized feedback to parents about their child's exposure to tobacco smoke, the study aims to improve the effectiveness of existing cessation programs. The trial involves a randomized controlled design with two groups: one receiving standard care and the other receiving additional biomarker-informed outreach. Follow-up assessments will evaluate the impact on parental quit rates and children's exposure to tobacco smoke over a 12-month period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include children aged 12 years or younger whose parents are current smokers and are visiting a pediatric practice for a clinically indicated blood draw.

Not a fit: Patients may not benefit if their parents are non-smokers or if the parents do not speak English.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly increase the rates of tobacco cessation among parents, thereby reducing children's exposure to harmful tobacco smoke.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using biomarker feedback to enhance tobacco cessation efforts, suggesting this approach could be effective.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Child 12 years old or younger presenting for a visit.
2. Child scheduled for or has had a clinically indicated blood draw at that visit
3. Parent/legal guardian of the child.
4. Parent/legal guardian is a current smoker (past 7 days).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Parent/legal guardian is non-English speaking.
2. Parent/legal guardian is less than 18 years of age.

Where this trial is running

Cleveland, Ohio

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Tobacco Dependencetobacco controltobacco treatmentpediatricsparents
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.