Smoking Cessation Program for Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults

Overseen By Tamara Stimatze

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Tobacco cessation treatments

Disqualifiers: Same household, NCI QuitGuide, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a digital program called EQQUAL-NM, designed to help sexual and gender minority young adults in New Mexico quit smoking. Smoking rates are higher in this group compared to others, making tailored treatments essential. Participants will use a smartphone app and receive motivational messages and smoking cessation information. Individuals who smoke at least one cigarette a week and have a smartphone with internet access might be a good fit for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research tailored to the community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be using other tobacco cessation treatments at the time of screening, but you can start them during the study.

What prior data suggests that the EQQUAL-NM program is safe for sexual and gender minority young adults?

Research has shown that EQQUAL-NM, a digital program designed to help people quit smoking, has been tested for effectiveness and user satisfaction. No specific safety problems or side effects have been directly linked to this program. As a digital tool, EQQUAL-NM does not involve medication or physical procedures, which typically carry higher risks.

Past studies have found that digital health tools like EQQUAL-NM are generally user-friendly. Participants typically use a smartphone app to receive quitting advice, track progress, and manage cravings. They also receive motivational text messages to help them stay committed. This method is considered low risk because it emphasizes behavioral support rather than medical treatments.

In summary, no major safety issues have been reported for EQQUAL-NM. The digital format of the program suggests it is likely safe and easy for users to manage. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about EQQUAL-NM for smoking cessation because it leverages a self-guided smartphone app to deliver personalized interventions, which is different from traditional methods like nicotine replacement therapy or prescription medications. This approach allows for constant accessibility and convenience, enabling users to receive motivational messages and reminders directly via text. Additionally, some participants provide at-home saliva samples for a more personalized follow-up, which offers a unique way to track and support their progress. These features could make quitting smoking more accessible and engaging, especially for sexual and gender minority young adults.

What evidence suggests that the EQQUAL-NM program is effective for smoking cessation in sexual and gender minority young adults?

Research has shown that the EQQUAL-NM program can help young adults from sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups quit smoking. In a previous study, all participants found the program easy to use and reported that it helped them stop smoking. Additionally, 93% of participants expressed satisfaction with the program, which offers advice on quitting, tracks progress, and helps manage cravings through a digital app. In this trial, participants will receive either EQQUAL-NM Program A or Program B. Both programs include motivational text messages and reminders, which have been shown to support quitting. These early results suggest that EQQUAL-NM could be a promising tool for helping SGM young adults quit smoking. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jaimee Heffner

Principal Investigator

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for sexual and gender minority young adults in New Mexico who smoke and are interested in quitting. It's designed to help this group because they have higher smoking rates than non-SGM adults.

Inclusion Criteria

Understand and agree to the conditions of compensation

Willing and able to stream audio and video for this study

Current use of a personal email account

Exclusion Criteria

Google voice number as sole phone number

Member of the same household as another research participant

Previous use of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) QuitGuide app

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive access to a self-guided, smartphone app-delivered quit smoking program, EQQUAL-NM, with text message reminders and prompts.

3 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for smoking cessation outcomes and may undergo saliva sample collection.

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• EQQUAL-NM

Trial Overview The EQQUAL-NM program, a smartphone app-based smoking cessation intervention tailored for SGM young adult smokers, is being tested. Participants will also provide biospecimens, answer questionnaires, and receive health education.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm I (EQQUAL-NM, Program A) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Participants receive self-guided smartphone app-delivered EQQUAL-NM (Program A) intervention on study. Participants also receive motivational messages, reminders and smoking cessation information via text messages. Some participants also complete at-home saliva sample collection during follow-up.

Group II: Arm II (EQQUAL-NM, Program B) Active Control 4 Interventions

Participants receive self-guided smartphone app-delivered EQQUAL-NM (Program B) intervention on study. Participants also receive motivational messages, reminders and smoking cessation information via text messages. Some participants also complete at-home saliva sample collection during follow-up.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

583

Recruited

1,341,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

National Cancer Institute Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

120+

New Mexico State University

Collaborator

Trials

10

Recruited

2,100+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06386432

EQQUAL-NM for the Promotion of Smoking Cessation in ... This program helps with quit advice, tracking progress on quitting smoking, and managing cravings. Participants receive text message reminders and prompts on ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-cigarette-smoking-related-carcinoma-8-2024-3e4d5

Smoking Cessation Program for Sexual and Gender ... This clinical trial assesses the acceptability and efficacy of Empowered, Queer, Quitting, and Living--New Mexico (EQQUAL-NM), a smoking cessation ...

3. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/434449?per_page=20&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

EQQUAL-NM for the Promotion of Smoking Cessation in ... This program helps with quit advice, tracking progress on quitting smoking, and managing cravings. Participants receive text message reminders and prompts on ...

4. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2021/7/e30241/

An Avatar-Led Digital Smoking Cessation Program for Sexual ... Overall, 93% of participants (14/15) were satisfied with the EQQUAL program, 100% (15/15) found it easy to use, and 100% (15/15) said it helped ...

5. app.trialscreen.org app.trialscreen.org/trials/eqqual-nm-promotion-smoking-cessation-sexual-gender-minority-young-adults-trial-nct06386432

EQQUAL-NM for the Promotion of Smoking Cessation in ... A randomized smoking cessation study for LGBTQ+ young adults in New Mexico. Evaluating a Tailored Digital Smoking Cessation Program for LGBTQ+ Young Adults in ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9732762/

Outcomes of a Comprehensive Mobile Smoking Cessation ... At 3 months, Average Treatment Effects weighted abstinence rates were 4.2% for those who did not use the web-based community, 15.1% for those ...