Peer Support Program for Quitting Vaping

(V2V Trial)

Overseen By Dante Simone

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Disqualifiers: Unable to provide consent

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help high school students quit vaping through a mobile peer support program. Participants will either receive regular e-cigarette cessation materials or engage with peer messages and coaching via texts, designed to manage cravings and encourage quitting. The trial targets students in grades 9-12 who currently use e-cigarettes and have a smartphone. The goal is to reduce vaping among teens by leveraging support from peers with similar experiences. As an unphased trial, this study offers students the opportunity to participate in innovative research that could make quitting easier for their peers.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on helping adolescents quit vaping through peer support.

What prior data suggests that this peer support program is safe for adolescents?

Research has shown that digital tools like peer coaching and messaging can be safe and helpful for quitting vaping. One study found that a text message program for teenagers improved their self-reported quitting rates, indicating many young people found it beneficial without major issues.

In another study, participants valued peer support and information about quitting vaping through mobile apps. They found these tools useful and easy to use, with no reports of serious problems or side effects.

Overall, mobile and text-based support for quitting vaping appears well-received. This approach is safe with no known risks, making it an encouraging option for those looking to quit. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Peer Support Program for quitting vaping because it leverages peer coaching and messaging as a unique approach to help teens quit e-cigarettes. Unlike traditional methods that might rely on nicotine replacement therapies or counseling, this program uses text-based peer interaction and gamification, making it more relatable and engaging for young people. By involving current and former e-cigarette users in crafting messages, the program offers personalized support tailored to each individual's age and readiness to quit, which could improve motivation and success rates.

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

Research shows that peer support and messaging can help teenagers quit vaping. In this trial, participants in the intervention arm will receive peer messages and coaching via text, which studies have shown increase the number of teens who report they stopped vaping. Another study found that digital tools, like peer messaging, hold promise for young people trying to quit. Specifically, text message support programs have effectively helped teens stop vaping. Peer support and digital methods rank among the best strategies for adolescents to quit. These approaches use familiar technology to engage and motivate teens to stop vaping. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rajani Sadasivam, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Lori Pbert, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for high school students in grades 9-12 who currently use e-cigarettes and can communicate in English or Spanish. Participants must have used an e-cigarette at least once in the past week and own a smartphone. Those unable to give informed consent or assent are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Have a smartphone

I am a high school student in grades 9-12.

Current e-cigarette user, as defined as a response greater than '0 days' to the question: 'During the past 7 days, on how many days did you use e-cigarettes?' This eligibility criterion is modeled on a question in the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), a survey of U.S. middle and high school students which used a 30-day timeframe.

Exclusion Criteria

I am unable or unwilling to give informed consent.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Development

A peer advisory panel of 20 adolescent e-cigarette users participates in a qualitative assessment and further development of V2V components

Not specified

Pilot Feasibility Study

Eighty adolescent e-cigarette users from 4 high schools are recruited and followed for 6 months to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the V2V intervention

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention, including measures of abstinence, self-efficacy, and nicotine addiction

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• E-Cigarette Cessation Materials
• Gamification
• Peer Coaching via Text
• Peer Messaging

Trial Overview The study tests Vaper-to-Vaper (V2V), a mobile tool suite that includes peer texting, coaching, gamification, and cessation materials designed to help adolescents quit vaping by managing cravings.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Students in schools randomized to the intervention will receive: (1) peer messages, written by current and former adolescent e-cigarette users and tailored by age and readiness-to-quit; (2) peer coaching, facilitated by texting; and (3) gamification, designed to motivate participation.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Students in schools randomized to the control condition will be provided e-cigarette cessation materials by the Research Coordinator at the time of study enrollment.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

372

Recruited

998,000+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12490768/

WhatsApp-Based Coaching Program to Support Smoking ... Effectiveness of a vaping cessation text message program among young adult e-Cigarette users: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2822082

A Vaping Cessation Text Message Program for Adolescent ... A tailored, interactive text message intervention increased self-reported vaping cessation rates among adolescents recruited via social media channels.

3. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e60527

Enhancing Text Message Support With Media Literacy and ... Specifically, peer support delivered through text message (eg, This is Quitting) has demonstrated effectiveness in vaping cessation across ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12548964/

Exploration of Digital Interventions for Vaping Cessation Digital interventions have emerged as a promising approach to support vaping cessation, particularly among youth and young adults.

5. publications.aap.org publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/152/5/e2023062948/194255/Adoption-of-Vaping-Cessation-Methods-by-US

Adoption of Vaping Cessation Methods by US Adolescent ... Peer support (14.2%), help on the Internet (6.4%), a mobile app or text messaging (5.9%), and parent support (5.8%) were the top 4 cessation methods.

6. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e57376

Outcomes of a Comprehensive Mobile Vaping Cessation ... This exploratory, prospective, single-arm, remote cohort study of the Pivot vaping cessation program assessed enrollment and questionnaire completion rates.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335523002231

Informing the development of interventions for e-cigarette ... Participants believed that mobile-based interventions should include peer support, ways to track cessation progress, education about the harms of e-cigarettes, ...

8. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2020/5/e18327/

Effectiveness of a Quit Vaping Text Message Program in ... This study evaluates the effectiveness of a text message quit vaping program (This is Quitting) in promoting abstinence from e-cigarettes among young adults.