Digital Therapeutics for Vaping

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Erin Kasson, MSW

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Non-us resident, Non-english speaker, No smartphone, Non-vaper, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 weeks

189 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help young people quit vaping through a digital app called quitSTART, specifically adapted for vaping cessation. Participants will use a version of the app that includes a chatbot feature for personalized support and encouragement. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in reducing vaping among teens and young adults. Those who currently vape, have a smartphone, and discuss quitting online or have health issues from vaping might be suitable for this study. As a Phase 1 trial, the research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to experience this innovative approach first.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on using a digital app to help quit vaping.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that the quitSTART mobile app, designed to help people stop smoking, is safe. The app offers tips and encouragement to quit smoking, with no reports of harm from its use.

Studies have found that the chatbot feature in the quitSTART app can increase motivation to quit vaping and smoking. These chatbots engage users through short, helpful conversations. They are also used in other tools to aid smoking cessation and are generally considered safe.

This trial is in the early stages, focusing on ensuring the app and chatbot are safe and comfortable for users. Since the app and chatbot are not drugs or medical devices, they lack the side effects associated with medications. Overall, evidence suggests that both the app and the chatbot feature are safe for users. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these digital therapies for vaping cessation because they introduce innovative methods in supporting young adults to quit vaping. Unlike traditional options, which often involve counseling or nicotine replacement therapies, the quitSTART Mobile Application offers a mobile-based approach. Particularly, the experimental version includes an embedded chatbot feature that provides personalized, real-time support and motivation, making it more engaging and accessible. This tech-driven approach leverages the widespread use of smartphones among young adults, providing a potentially more effective and convenient resource for quitting vaping.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for vaping cessation?

Research has shown that digital tools like the quitSTART mobile app can help people quit smoking, and similar success is expected for quitting vaping. In this trial, participants in Experimental Group A will use the quitSTART Mobile Application adapted for vaping cessation. Participants in Experimental Group B will use the same app with an embedded chatbot feature. The app provides personalized tips and encouragement based on smoking or vaping habits. Studies have found that customized digital tools, like quitSTART, keep users engaged and support their efforts to quit. The app also includes a chatbot feature to boost motivation and provide helpful content. This method is especially promising for young adults who seek privacy and support through their phones. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for U.S. residents who speak English, use vaping products daily, and have a smartphone. Participants should be networking about quitting or facing health issues from vaping but not using it to quit smoking.

Inclusion Criteria

You are a US resident.

You possess daily access to a smartphone.

You have used a vaping product within the past 30 days.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage with a mobile app intervention adapted for vaping cessation, including an embedded chatbot feature to guide and motivate cessation efforts

6 weeks

Online engagement

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for vaping cessation and engagement with the intervention

3 months

Online follow-up assessments

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Chatbot Feature in quitSTART Mobile Application
• quitSTART Mobile Application

Trial Overview The study tests the quitSTART mobile app with an added chatbot feature designed to help teens and young adults stop vaping by providing tailored content and motivation through their smartphones.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental Group B: Mobile App Intervention with Embedded Chatbot Feature Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

quitSTART Mobile Application Adapted for Vaping Cessation Among Young Adults Including Embedded Chatbot Feature

Group II: Experimental Group A: Mobile App Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

quitSTART Mobile Application Adapted for Vaping Cessation Among Young Adults

Group III: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Nationwide resource referral and intervention waitlist

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Collaborator

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

University of South Carolina

Collaborator

Trials

233

Recruited

122,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11153975/

Identifying Patterns of Smoking Cessation App Feature Use ... The outcome of interest for this study, short-term cigarette smoking cessation, was measured at the end of the quitSTART EMA Incentivization ...

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/380802455_Identifying_Patterns_of_Smoking_Cessation_App_Feature_Use_That_Predict_Successful_Quitting_Secondary_Analysis_of_Experimental_Data_Leveraging_Machine_Learning

Identifying Patterns of Smoking Cessation App Feature Use ... Objective This study aimed to examine the influence of app-based EMA participation on smoking cessation for people who are incentivized to use ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/349848794_Using_Digital_Technologies_to_Reach_Tobacco_Users_Who_Want_to_Quit_Evidence_From_the_National_Cancer_Institute%27s_Smokefreegov_Initiative

(PDF) Using Digital Technologies to Reach Tobacco Users ... In addition to the commercial options, the National Cancer Institute created two free SCAs (QuitGuide and quitSTART) integrated with their Smokefree.gov ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10835281/

An analysis of user assessments of the smoking cessation ... It is also promising that the quitSTART app data suggest that this smoking cessation app is perceived as highly usable among people from racial minority ...

5. pouchbuddy.app pouchbuddy.app/blog/best-quit-smoking-apps

12 Best Quit Smoking Apps for a Nicotine-Free 2025 quitSTART excels at providing immediate, actionable support during moments of weakness. The app includes built-in games and challenges to ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11303891/

Conversational Chatbot for Cigarette Smoking Cessation We developed a quit smoking program spanning 42 days of 2- to 3-minute conversations covering topics ranging from motivations to quit, setting a quit date, ...

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2414-4088/8/11/101

Interactive Conversational Agents for Cigarette-Smoking ... Our review found that compared to other smoking cessation methods, chatbots can lead to increased willingness to quit smoking and vaping, better engagement in ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2292949524001251

Co-Designing a Smoking Cessation Chatbot: Focus Group ... Our prototype smoking cessation chatbot, Quin, provides evidence-based, personalized support delivered via a smartphone app to help people quit ...

9. fredhutch.org fredhutch.org/en/news/releases/2024/01/fred-hutch-launches-free-ai-powered-chatbot-app-to-help-people-q.html

Fred Hutch launches free AI-powered chatbot app to help ... QuitBot is a comprehensive app that uses an AI-powered chatbot to provide users personalized support to quit smoking.

10. smokefree.gov smokefree.gov/tools-tips/quitstart

quitSTART Quit Smoking App The quitSTART app is a free smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges.