Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere

Purpose

The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of an mHealth smoking cessation and HIV disease management intervention among a nationally representative sample of African America/Black (hereafter refer to as Black) persons with HIV/AIDS (PWH) who smoke cigarettes. Participants will be randomized into one of three conditions: (1) the intervention, ESCAPE (Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere) + Nicotine Replacement Medications (NRT), (2) the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) quitSTART app, the standard mobile smoking cessation treatment + NRT, and (3) an assessment-only control group + NRT.

Conditions

  • ESCAPE Intervention+NRT
  • quitSTART Intervention+NRT
  • CTRL+NRT

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • At least 18 years of age - Identify as Black/African American - Living with HIV - Biochemical verification of self-reported smoking status following minimum study specified smoking rate endorsement - Motivated to quit smoking - Must be ready to quit cigarettes within 14 days of full enrollment - Moderate or higher anxiety sensitivity OR elevated anxiety OR depression - Must be willing to download a mobile app onto their personal phone - Must be willing to use NRT - Possess an Android/Apple smartphone that is compatible with the mobile app - Demonstrate 7th grade level proficiency in English (≥4 on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form [REALM-SF]) - Valid proof of identification (photo of valid US ID)

Exclusion Criteria

  • Legal situations which may interfere with study participation - Not being fluent in English - High blood pressure that is not under control - Having experienced a heart attack within the past 2 weeks - Pregnant of planning to become pregnant within the next six months

Study Design

Phase
Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
ESCAPE intervention + NRT
ESCAPE is a mobile intervention that targets anxiety sensitivity among Black adults who smoke cigarettes and have HIV. This intervention is framed within the cultural context of interoceptive stress among Black adults who smoke, which is supported by theory, empirical evidence, and characteristics of this group. The intervention employs a variety of features to educate users on how to deal with stress, anxiety, and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The app contains a series of on-demand features, including a coping toolkit, stress management trainings, and a series of educational videos. ESCAPE also utilizes Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to gather information and provide personalized messages to users in real time. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
  • Behavioral: ESCAPE app + NRT
    ESCAPE is a mobile intervention that targets anxiety sensitivity among Black adults who smoke cigarettes and have HIV. This intervention is framed within the cultural context of interoceptive stress among Black adults who smoke, which is supported by theory, empirical evidence, and characteristics of this group. The intervention employs a variety of features to educate users on how to deal with stress, anxiety, and nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The app contains a series of on-demand features, including a coping toolkit, stress management trainings, and a series of educational videos. ESCAPE also utilizes Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to gather information and provide personalized messages to users in real time. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Active Comparator
quitSTART intervention + NRT
quitSTART is a smartphone-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) intervention for standard mobile smoking cessation treatment. The intervention contains features that allow its' users to better understand their smoking patterns, and build skills needed to become and stay smoke free. The app allows users to track cravings and delivers motivational messages to users for each craving they track. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
  • Behavioral: quiSTART app + NRT
    quitSTART is a smartphone-based National Cancer Institute (NCI) intervention for standard mobile smoking cessation treatment. The intervention contains features that allow its' users to better understand their smoking patterns, and build skills needed to become and stay smoke free. The app allows users to track cravings and delivers motivational messages to users for each craving they track. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Sham Comparator
Control (CTRL) + NRT
The CTRL group will complete the same baseline survey, follow-up surveys, and ecological momentary assessments schedule as the ESCAPE app + NRT and the quitSTART app + NRT group. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They will not receive additional intervention content.
  • Behavioral: Control (CTRL)
    The CTRL group will complete the same baseline survey, follow-up surveys, and ecological momentary assessments schedule as the ESCAPE app + NRT and the quitSTART app + NRT group. All participants will receive free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). They will not receive additional intervention content.

Recruiting Locations

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
Contact:
Michael Businelle, Ph.D.
405-271-8001
Michael-Businelle@ouhsc.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Houston

Study Contact

Lorra Garey, Ph.D.
713-743-8056
llgarey@central.uh.edu

Detailed Description

This nationwide trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a smartphone-based smoking cessation and HIV care management intervention culturally tailored for Black PWH who smoke cigarettes with treated and untreated HIV.A RCT will be conducted with 300 Black PWH who smoke cigarettes to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to the smartphone-based ESCAPE intervention + NRT, the National Cancer Institute's smartphone-based quitSTART intervention + NRT, or assessment-only control + NRT. Participants will complete a self-screener, baseline appointment, 8 weeks of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs), 8 weekly follow-up assessments, 10 monthly check-in surveys, a 28-week follow-up, and a final 54-week follow-up. A subset of participants will also be selected to complete a qualitative interview at the end of their 6th week in the study.