Helping smokers practice quitting tobacco
A Mechanistic Test of Treatment Strategies to Foster Practice Quitting
This study is testing a new way to help smokers practice quitting tobacco by trying short breaks from smoking without pressure, comparing it to regular counseling, to see which method helps them make more quit attempts over six months.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase1; Phase2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 780 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rush University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT05513872 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to address tobacco use disorder by exploring a novel approach called practice quitting (PQ), which encourages smokers to attempt not smoking for short periods without the pressure of a permanent quit date. It will compare the effectiveness of PQ counseling against Motivational Interviewing (MI) counseling, alongside the provision of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) samples. The study will involve 780 current smokers who are not planning to quit in the next 30 days, evaluating the impact of these interventions on the incidence of quit attempts over six months.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who smoke at least five cigarettes daily and are not planning to quit in the next 30 days.
Not a fit: Patients who are daily users of vaping or electronic cigarettes or those with specific health contraindications for nicotine replacement therapy will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly increase the number of smokers making quit attempts and ultimately lead to higher cessation rates.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using practice quitting as a strategy for smoking cessation, indicating potential success for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible participants will be males and females who: 1. are 18 years or older 2. report current daily cigarette smoking (≥ 5 cigarettes per day) 3. are not planning to quit in the next 30 days 4. are not currently engaged in smoking cessation treatment 5. are motivated to quit or engage in a non-cessation goal (i.e., reduce smoking, learn more about treatment options, and/ or try out skills to change smoking) in the next 6 months 6. are English speaking 7. reside in the continental United States 8. have access to a smartphone that can be used to complete study procedures Exclusion Criteria: Participants will be excluded for daily vaping/ electronic cigarettes use (i.e., use for ≥ 25 days within past 30 days) and any FDA contraindications for NRT use if they: 1. are pregnant/breastfeeding 2. had recent cardiovascular trauma such as myocardial infarction 3. had a stroke within the past 3 months
Where this trial is running
Chicago, Illinois
- Rush University Medical Center — Chicago, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Amanda Mathew, PhD — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Maritza Esqueda-Medina
- Email: on-deq@rush.edu
- Phone: 312-563-3702
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.