QuitBot Program for Cancer Prevention

Overseen By Jonathan Bricker, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Breastfeeding, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 6 weeks

772 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

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 quitting smoking, so it's best to consult with the trial coordinators or your doctor for guidance.

What data supports the effectiveness of the QuitBot Smoking Cessation Chatbot Program and QuitBot Smoking Cessation Text Messaging Program treatments?

Research shows that expert system interventions, like the QuitBot program, have helped many people quit smoking, with success rates between 22% and 26%. Additionally, using text messages and chatbots can increase engagement and support people in sticking to their quitting plans. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the QuitBot Program for Cancer Prevention different from other smoking cessation treatments?

The QuitBot Program is unique because it uses a chatbot and text messaging to help people quit smoking, offering personalized and interactive support. This approach can increase engagement compared to traditional methods, as it provides real-time assistance and motivation through mobile technology. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial develops a chatbot smartphone application (app), QuitBot, and text messaging to help American Indians (AI) and Alaska Natives (AN) to quit smoking commercial tobacco (smoking cessation), and evaluates two remote smoking cessation programs to see how well they work for helping AI/AN people quit smoking commercial tobacco. AI/AN populations have one of the highest rates of commercial cigarette smoking of any racial and ethnic group in the United States (US). They also have a higher rate of developing smoking-related cancer but are less likely to quit smoking. The two programs are designed to provide personalized support in setting a smoking cessation goal, tasks to reach the smoking cessation goal, and motivation to remain smoke-free. This may help to keep participants engaged and support them in their quit efforts, and may improve smoking cessation among AI and AN.

Research Team

Jonathan B Bricker

Principal Investigator

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are looking to quit smoking. It's designed to help them with personalized support through a smartphone app called QuitBot and text messaging programs.

Inclusion Criteria

Smoking combustible cigarettes daily in the past year

I want to learn how to quit smoking.

Ability to read English

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or breastfeeding

Use of other tobacco products (e.g., ceremonial use of tobacco, e-cigarettes) will be assessed but is not an exclusion criterion, as it would limit the study's generalizability

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive daily QuitBot program messages about quitting smoking over 42 days

6 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for smoking cessation success and engagement with QuitBot

24 months

Follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months, with possible contact up to 24 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• QuitBot Smoking Cessation Chatbot Program
• QuitBot Smoking Cessation Text Messaging Program

Trial Overview The study tests two remote smoking cessation methods: the QuitBot app and a text messaging program. Both aim to provide motivation, support in setting goals, tasks for quitting smoking, and maintaining a smoke-free life.

Participant Groups

Group I: Arm I (QuitBot chatbot) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants participate in the QuitBot program which involves chatbot messages over 42 days. Therapy description withheld to protect the integrity of the study.

Group II: Arm II (QuitBot texting) Active Control 4 Interventions

Participants participate in the QuitBot program which involves text messages over 42 days. Therapy description withheld to protect the integrity of the study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

583

Recruited

1,341,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Findings from Research

The Pathways to Change (PTC) system is an effective smoking cessation intervention, achieving cessation rates of 22% to 26% in four studies, indicating its efficacy in helping smokers quit.

The intervention's effects appear to increase over time, as follow-up assessments showed larger differences in cessation rates, suggesting lasting benefits beyond the treatment period.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An expert system intervention for smoking cessation. Velicer, WF., Prochaska, JO.[2022]

In a study of 436 patients at a smoking cessation clinic, sending SMS reminders significantly improved attendance at follow-up visits, which was linked to higher smoking cessation rates.

Patients who attended at least one follow-up visit had a smoking cessation rate of 34.5%, compared to only 19.1% for those who did not attend any visits, highlighting the importance of appointment compliance in achieving smoking cessation success.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Short Message Service Increase Adherence to Smoking Cessation Clinic Appointments and Quitting Smoking? Önür, ST., Uysal, MA., İliaz, S., et al.[2019]

The Quit the Vape (QTV) program, which includes automated text messaging for e-cigarette cessation, showed high engagement and satisfaction among participants, with over 85% responding to messages and 55.6% reporting satisfaction compared to only 17.7% in the control group.

Adding live text counseling (QTV-C) appeared to enhance quitting outcomes, with 27.8% of participants achieving 7-day point prevalence abstinence, compared to 11.1% for QTV alone and 5.9% for the control group, suggesting that this combination may be more effective for e-cigarette cessation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot randomized controlled trial of automated and counselor-delivered text messages for e-cigarette cessation. Krishnan, N., Berg, CJ., Le, D., et al.[2023]

Computer-based smoking cessation programs are effective and can be delivered on a large scale at a low cost, making them accessible to many smokers.

These programs work best when combined with pharmacotherapy and can serve as a helpful addition to counseling provided by healthcare professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using new information technology to treat tobacco dependence. Etter, JF.[2017]

The Text2Quit program significantly increased biochemically confirmed smoking abstinence rates, with 11.1% of participants in the intervention group remaining smoke-free compared to only 5.0% in the control group, indicating a relative risk of 2.22.

Self-reported smoking abstinence was also higher in the Text2Quit group (19.9%) compared to the control group (10.0%), suggesting that the program is effective across various demographic groups, particularly among non-white participants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized trial of Text2Quit: a text messaging program for smoking cessation. Abroms, LC., Boal, AL., Simmens, SJ., et al.[2022]

Text messaging interventions for smoking cessation show promise, with 22 studies indicating that these programs can effectively motivate individuals to quit smoking, particularly among adults aged 30-40 and young adults aged 18-29.

While some interventions demonstrated better smoking cessation outcomes than control conditions, more rigorous research is needed to identify the most effective components of these text messaging strategies to enhance their overall efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Text messaging-based smoking cessation intervention: a narrative review. Kong, G., Ells, DM., Camenga, DR., et al.[2022]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An expert system intervention for smoking cessation. [2022]

2. Turkey pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Short Message Service Increase Adherence to Smoking Cessation Clinic Appointments and Quitting Smoking? [2019]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness and Acceptability of Conversational Agents for Smoking Cessation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. [2023]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring Users' Experiences With a Quick-Response Chatbot Within a Popular Smoking Cessation Smartphone App: Semistructured Interview Study. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluating the QUIT-PRIMO clinical practice ePortal to increase smoker engagement with online cessation interventions: a national hybrid type 2 implementation study. [2022]

6. Greece pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot randomized controlled trial of automated and counselor-delivered text messages for e-cigarette cessation. [2023]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using new information technology to treat tobacco dependence. [2017]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized trial of Text2Quit: a text messaging program for smoking cessation. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Text messaging-based smoking cessation intervention: a narrative review. [2022]