Quitxt bilingual text-and-chat program to help young Latino adults quit smoking
Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Innovative Smoking Cessation Services for Young Adults in Texas
This test tries to see if Quitxt, a bilingual, culturally tailored text-message and chat program, helps Latino young adults (ages 18–29) quit smoking compared with abbreviated texts and a referral to Yes Quit.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 1200 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 29 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Antonio, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT05958667 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The trial will enroll 1,200 Latino young adult smokers aged 18–29 who are willing to make quit attempts and randomize half to receive the Quitxt intervention and half to receive abbreviated cessation texts plus referral to the Texas Yes Quit program. Quitxt delivers interactive bilingual text and chat messages with visual and video content, using social cognitive, motivational interviewing, and brief intervention techniques tailored to young Latino culture and language. The comparator provides shorter cessation-related messages and a referral but not the culturally tailored, interactive content. Participants complete baseline and follow-up assessments and must have a text-capable phone and internet access to participate, with the trial conducted through The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Latinos aged 18–29 who smoke at least one cigarette a day on most days, are interested in quitting, own a text- and internet-capable phone, reside in the study area, and are willing to provide follow-up data and not enroll in another cessation program.
Not a fit: Patients unlikely to benefit include those not interested in quitting, those without a text- or internet-capable phone or who cannot respond to texts or view web/video content, those unable to consent, or those planning to leave the study area during the trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Quitxt could increase quit rates among young Latino smokers and help reduce tobacco-related health disparities in South Texas.
How similar studies have performed: Previous text-message smoking cessation programs have shown modest efficacy in general populations, but Quitxt's bilingual, culturally tailored approach for young Latinos is novel and not previously tested in this specific population.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Latinos 2. aged 18-29 years; 3. smoking at least one cigarette/day ≥3 days/week; 4. interested in quitting; 5. willing to provide follow-up data; 6. are not simultaneously participating in a cessation program; 7. own a cell phone or smartphone; 8. are able to send and receive text messages and access the Internet; 9. reside in the study area; and 10. able to provide informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. are not interested in quitting; 2. are unable to provide consent due to a mental, emotional, or physical handicap that keep them from understanding the consent information; 3. do not own a cell phone with text and Internet capabilities; 4. are unable to respond to text messages and questions or unable to view the study mobile webpages/YouTube videos (i.e., if they are blind, deaf); or 5. are planning to move from the study area within the study time span.
Where this trial is running
San Antonio, Texas
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio — San Antonio, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Patricia Chalela, DrPH — The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Patricia Chalela, DrPH
- Email: chalela@uthscsa.edu
- Phone: (210) 562-6513
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.