Helping Veterans quit smoking with social support

Veteran Social Support Intervention for Enhancing Smoking Treatment Utilization and Cessation

Not applicable Interventional VA Office of Research and Development · NCT05868421

This study is testing whether getting support from friends or family can help Veterans quit smoking more successfully than going it alone.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment2376 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development Federal
Locations1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Trial IDNCT05868421 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study recruits Veterans who smoke and their chosen support persons to enhance smoking cessation efforts. The aim is to evaluate how social support impacts the use of evidence-based tobacco cessation treatments and the effectiveness of quitting smoking. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a social support intervention or a control condition, with assessments of smoking abstinence and the role of support in the quitting process. The findings will inform tailored strategies to assist Veterans in quitting smoking.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Veterans who smoke cigarettes and can identify a supportive family member or friend willing to assist them in quitting.

Not a fit: Patients who have recently used cessation medications or programs may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly improve smoking cessation rates among Veterans by leveraging social support.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown that social support can enhance smoking cessation efforts, indicating potential success for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

Veteran Inclusion Criteria

* Smoked 1 cigarettes over the past 30 days, even a puff
* If using other tobacco or nicotine products, cigarettes are the main product used
* Able to identify one adult family member or friend (SP) with whom they have contact (of any form) at least 3 times per week who will enroll Veteran Support Person Inclusion Criteria
* Willing to support the Veteran smoker
* Have to have access to any type of phone (or tablet for video call) for delivery of the SP intervention

Exclusion Criteria:

Veteran Exclusion Criteria

* Have used cessation medications or a stop smoking program within the past 3 months
* Have no valid phone contact information

Where this trial is running

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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 Smoking CessationVeterans HealthSmoking cessationSocial supportVeterans healthTobacco cessationSupport persons
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.