Investigating how tax proposals affect tobacco purchasing habits
ETM Taxes Study 1: The Impact of Innovative Tax Proposals on Purchase Patterns
This study tests how different tax proposals on cigarettes affect how much smokers buy and what types of tobacco products they choose.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 280 (estimated) |
| Ages | 21 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Buffalo, New York and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05370313 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study examines the impact of four innovative tax proposals on the purchasing patterns of cigarette smokers. Participants will engage in an Experimental Tobacco Marketplace where they will experience different tax conditions, including a control condition and various tax proposals. The study aims to understand how these tax changes influence cigarette purchasing, product substitution, and the diversity of tobacco products purchased. By modeling these tax proposals, the research seeks to provide insights into effective tobacco control strategies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adult smokers aged 21 and older who smoke at least 5 cigarettes daily and do not use other tobacco products frequently.
Not a fit: Patients with uncontrolled health conditions, those using smoking cessation medications, or individuals planning to quit smoking soon may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could inform policies that reduce tobacco consumption and improve public health.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific tax proposals are largely untested, similar studies have shown that tax increases can influence smoking behavior.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * provide informed consent * provide a breath carbon monoxide sample ≥ 8 ppm, * be at least 21 years of age (the legal age to purchase tobacco), * smoke at least 5 cigarettes daily, and * use other tobacco products less than weekly. Exclusion Criteria: * report uncontrolled physical or mental health conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, major depressive disorder, etc.), * use of smoking cessation medications (e.g., nicotine replacement, bupropion, varenicline) in the past 30 days, * report concrete, immediate plans to alter/quit using their usual tobacco products in the next 30 days, * be pregnant or lactating, or * have plans to move out of the area during the experiment.
Where this trial is running
Buffalo, New York and 1 other locations
- Roswell Cancer Research Institute — Buffalo, New York, United States (Recruiting)
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute — Roanoke, Virginia, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Warren K Bickel, Ph.D. — Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
- Study coordinator: Roberta Freitas Lemos, Ph.D.
- Email: rflemos@vtc.vt.edu
- Phone: 5405262106
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.