CompletedNot Applicable

Small Financial Incentives to Promote Smoking Cessation

United States320 participantsStarted 2017-01-30

Plain-language summary

The primary objectives of this study are 1) to evaluate the longer-term impact of an adjunctive, low-cost financial incentives intervention (relative to standard care) on smoking abstinence rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals participating in a clinic-based smoking cessation program and 2) to identify treatment mechanisms and contextual factors associated with cessation outcomes among intervention participants using both traditional and ecological momentary assessment approaches. Those randomized to the financial incentives intervention will have the opportunity to earn small gift cards for biochemically-verified abstinence through 12 weeks post-quit. We hypothesize that individuals who are randomly assigned to the adjunctive CM intervention will have significantly higher rates of biochemically-verified abstinence at the 26-week post-quit follow-up than those assigned to Usual Care. In addition, we hypothesize that several factors related to socioeconomic disadvantage will be directly associated with non-abstinence, especially greater stress/adversity, limited psychosocial resources, greater negative affect, greater nicotine dependence, and poorer treatment adherence. The primary study endpoints will include self-reported tobacco use/abstinence, expired carbon monoxide (CO) levels (i.e., the amount of carbon monoxide present in an individual's breath when they breathe out), and saliva cotinine levels at 26 weeks post-quit attempt, though smoking status will be assessed at all visits. Traditional questionnaire measurement and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) will be utilized to measure potential treatment mechanisms including motivation, self-efficacy, and treatment adherence. Other variables including stress/adversity, psychosocial resources, negative affect, nicotine dependence, and treatment adherence will also be assessed.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. are currently uninsured or receiving Medicaid benefits
. earn a score ≥ 4 on the REALM indicating \> 6th grade English literacy level
. are willing to quit smoking 7 days from their first visit
. are ≥ 18 years of age
. have an expired CO level ≥ 8 ppm suggestive of current smoking
. are currently smoking ≥ 5 cigarettes per day
. are willing and able to attend 9 study visits.

Exclusion criteria

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial tested whether small financial incentives can help people quit smoking — do you think that kind of external motivation would actually work for my situation, or would a different approach like medication or counseling be a better fit for me?
2Since this trial has already been completed and measured biochemically verified quit rates, has it published results I could review, and what do those results tell us about how effective the financial incentive approach actually was?
3The trial didn't involve a drug or medical device, so it's listed as Phase NA — does that mean there are fewer safety concerns compared to pharmacological quit-smoking trials, and are there any downsides I should still be aware of?
4If I'm looking to quit smoking, should I consider combining something like financial incentives with proven treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy or prescription medications, or does the evidence suggest the incentive approach works well on its own?
5Are there specific types of smokers — for example, heavy smokers, people who've tried to quit before, or those with certain health conditions — for whom this kind of behavioral incentive program tends to work better or worse, based on what you know about this trial's findings?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Biochemically-verified Smoking Cessation

Timeframe: 26 weeks post-quit

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02737566

SponsorUniversity of Oklahoma

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2022-02-08

Results submitted2023-03-28

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Smoking Cessation trials