Smoking Cessation Via Text Messaging: Feasibility Testing of Stop My Smoking USA (SMS USA)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01516632
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: January 25, 2012
• Results First Posted: June 6, 2016
• Last Update Posted: June 6, 2016
• Sponsor: Center for Innovative Public Health Research
• Collaborators: Michigan State University; The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston; National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Center for Innovative Public Health Research

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The investigators developed a text messaging-based smoking cessation program called SMS (Stop My Smoking) USA. It was tailored for the unique needs and smoking habits of young adults. The investigators hypothesized that those in the SMS USA intervention would be significantly more likely to be quit at 6-months compared to the attention-matched control group.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Smoking Cessation	Behavioral: SMS USA	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

About one in four young adults are current smokers. Although over half report the desire to quit or cut down, quit rates in this age group have remained stagnant in the last ten years. Text messaging may represent a compelling intervention delivery method for smoking cessation for young adults because it is a medium they have widely adopted. Cell phone interventions also are unique because of their 'always on' capability - interventions are never far from the young adult's reach and they are received automatically instead of requiring the participant to initiate contact in order to receive the information. Dr. Ybarra, along with Drs. Holtrop and Graham, have developed SMS Turkey, an innovative behavioral intervention that uses text messaging to deliver CBT-based smoking cessation information to participants daily. Successful use of text messaging to deliver smoking cessation programs has been reported by Rodgers and colleagues in New Zealand and a replication study they are leading in the United Kingdom. These data provide optimism for the feasibility of text messaging-based smoking cessation programs in the United States. Using qualitative methods to inform design and content, and quantitative methods to assess the feasibility of the program, we propose to design and test SMS (Stop My Smoking) USA, a cell-phone based smoking cessation program for young adults ages 18-25. This innovative smoking cessation program uses technology widely adopted by young adults, an under-targeted population, to deliver a proactive, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based intervention. Our multidisciplinary team of researchers brings together expertise in Internet health and the design of tailored smoking cessation interventions.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 164 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single (Participant)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Smoking Cessation Via Text Messaging: Feasibility Testing of SMS USA
• Study Start Date: June 2009
• Actual Primary Completion Date: December 2011
• Actual Study Completion Date: December 2011

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: SMS USA; The 6-week smoking cessation intervention	Behavioral: SMS USA; Intervention participants receive text messages daily pre-and post-quit. Everyone receives messages 14 days prior to the Quit day, and through the day after Quit. Then, participants are 'pathed' to particular messages based upon their self-reported smoking status at Day 2 and Day 7 post quit, respectively. Those who are successful at quitting receive messages aimed at relapse prevention whereas those who have slipped receive messages aimed at getting the person to recommit to quitting and trying again.; Other Name: Stop My Smoking USA
No Intervention: Attention matched control; Messages aimed at improving one's sleep and increasing one's fitness, along with general messages about the most well known health dangers of smoking. Messages sent on the same schedule as the intervention group.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Continuous Abstinence at 3-months Assessed in Accordance With the NIH Behavior Change Consortium's Recommendations [ Time Frame: 3-months post-quit ]

   Continuous abstinence is defined as 5 or fewer cigarettes smoked since one's quit date. The question was asked based upon West et al., 2005: "Have you smoked at all, even just a puff, since [insert quit date]?" If yes, the respondent will be probed for how many cigarettes were smoked. Responses will be categorized into one of three options: A) No, not a puff; B) 1-5 cigarettes; C) More than 5 cigarettes.

   Self-reported cessation is confirmed by a significant other.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Point Prevalence [ Time Frame: 4-weeks post-quit ]
   A cigarette, even just a puff, within the last 7 days (yes/no).
2. Continuous Abstinence at 4-weeks Post-quit [ Time Frame: 4 weeks post-quit ]
   Smoking five or fewer cigarettes since quit day at 4 weeks post-quit as verified by a significant other

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 25 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• 28 cigarettes or more per week (at least 4/day) and on at least 6 days/week.
• Owning a text-capable cell phone and cognizant of how to send and receive text messages
• Currently enrolled or intending to enroll in an unlimited text messaging plan
• Enrolled with a cell phone carrier that was compatible with the program software
• Agree to verification of smoking cessation status by a significant other
• Able to read and write in English
• Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

None

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Internet Solutions for Kids, Inc.

Santa Ana, California, United States, 92705

Sponsors and Collaborators

Center for Innovative Public Health Research

Michigan State University

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Michele Ybarra, MPH PhD; Center for Innovative Public Health Research

More Information

Study Data/Documents: Informed Consent Form 

All study materials (e.g., consent form, assessments) can be downloaded from the project website

Publications of Results:

Ybarra ML, Holtrop JS, Prescott TL, Rahbar MH, Strong D. Pilot RCT results of stop my smoking USA: a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 Aug;15(8):1388-99. doi: 10.1093/ntr/nts339. Epub 2013 Jan 24.

Other Publications:

Ybarra ML, Holtrop JS, Prescott TL, Strong D. Process evaluation of a mHealth program: lessons learned from Stop My Smoking USA, a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. Patient Educ Couns. 2014 Nov;97(2):239-43. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2014.07.009. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Ybarra ML, Prescott TL, Holtrop JS. Steps in tailoring a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. J Health Commun. 2014 Dec;19(12):1393-407. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2014.901441. Epub 2014 Apr 25.

Filion AJ, Darlington G, Chaput JP, Ybarra M, Haines J. Examining the influence of a text message-based sleep and physical activity intervention among young adult smokers in the United States. BMC Public Health. 2015 Jul 16;15:671. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2045-2.

• Responsible Party: Center for Innovative Public Health Research
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01516632
• Other Study ID Numbers: R21CA135669 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ); 5R21CA135669 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
• First Posted: January 25, 2012
• Results First Posted: June 6, 2016
• Last Update Posted: June 6, 2016
• Last Verified: April 2016

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: No

Keywords provided by Center for Innovative Public Health Research:

Cellular Phone; Mobile Phone; Cognitive Behavior Therapy; Technology; Smoking cessation; young adults