Quit Smoking Text Messages for Smoking Cessation

Overseen By Kathleen A Garrison, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Yale University

Disqualifiers: Enrolled in another program

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores new methods to help people quit smoking using text messages and possibly a smartband. The goal is to assess the effectiveness of a text messaging program called SmokefreeTXT, with or without the added support of a smartband (a wearable smoking detector), for individuals trying to quit smoking. It suits those who have smoked daily for at least six months and are eager to quit. Participants should not engage in any other quit-smoking programs while participating in this one. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative methods for quitting smoking.

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

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

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

Research shows that SmokefreeTXT is generally easy to use. This program sends text messages to motivate and provide tips for quitting smoking. Studies have not identified any major negative side effects from using this service.

For SmokefreeTXT combined with a smartband, research also indicates safety. The smartband helps users track and become aware of their smoking habits. While the band aims to help people notice when they smoke, no serious negative effects have been reported.

Both options focus on changing behavior, making them low-risk. Overall, these tools are designed to help people quit smoking without causing harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

SmokefreeTXT sets itself apart by offering a personalized, text-based approach to quitting smoking, which is more accessible and continuous compared to traditional methods like nicotine replacement therapies or prescription medications. The addition of a smartband in the experimental arm introduces a novel way to monitor and support behavior change through real-time feedback and data tracking. This digital and wearable tech combination provides a more engaging and interactive experience, which researchers believe could enhance motivation and adherence, ultimately boosting success rates in smoking cessation.

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

Research shows that SmokefreeTXT, a text messaging program, helps people quit smoking. Studies have found that text messages can boost the chances of quitting by 63%. One study discovered that people who used a 12-week text message program were more likely to quit smoking at 3 and 6 months than those who didn't use it.

In this trial, participants will be randomized into different treatment arms. One arm will receive SmokefreeTXT alone, while another will receive SmokefreeTXT combined with a smartband. The smartband detects smoking and sends real-time alerts, increasing awareness of smoking habits, which can lead to better quitting results. Using both text messages and smartband feedback together may provide stronger support for quitting smoking. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kathleen A Garrison, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for daily smokers who have been smoking for at least six months and are interested in quitting. It's not open to individuals already enrolled in another quit smoking program.

Inclusion Criteria

Report an interest in quitting smoking.

Daily smokers for at least 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

Reporting being currently enrolled in another quit smoking program

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the SmokefreeTXT program with or without a smartband for smoking cessation

8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for smoking cessation outcomes and relapse

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Smartband
• SmokefreeTXT

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of a quit smoking text messaging service called SmokefreeTXT, with some participants also using a smartband. Participants will be randomly placed into groups to receive either just the texts or texts plus the smartband.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SmokefreeTXT + smartband Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Daily smokers for at least 6 months who report an interest in quitting will be randomized to receive the National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT + smartband.

Group II: SmokefreeTXT Active Control 1 Intervention

Daily smokers for at least 6 months who report an interest in quitting will be randomized to receive the National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT.

SmokefreeTXT is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as SmokefreeTXT for:

• Smoking cessation

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,963

Recruited

3,046,000+

American Lung Association

Collaborator

Trials

32

Recruited

11,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 18,080 adults using the SmokefreeTXT program, over half completed the 42-day smoking cessation treatment, with a 12.9% abstinence rate among those who finished the program.

The study revealed that while initial engagement was promising, long-term abstinence rates dropped significantly, highlighting the need for improved participant retention strategies and support at critical time points to enhance smoking cessation success.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Analysing user-reported data for enhancement of SmokefreeTXT: a national text message smoking cessation intervention. Augustson, E., Cole-Lewis, H., Sanders, A., et al.[2018]

The SmokefreeVET text messaging program, designed for veterans, showed that 13% of users achieved smoking abstinence after five weeks, with higher success rates among those who were highly engaged in the program.

Users who combined SmokefreeVET with smoking cessation medications were significantly more likely to quit smoking, with an odds ratio of 9.01, highlighting the importance of medication in enhancing the program's effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Engagement and abstinence among users of a smoking cessation text message program for veterans. Christofferson, DE., Hertzberg, JS., Beckham, JC., et al.[2019]

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]

A text messaging (SMS) program developed for adult smokers in primary care received high ratings for clarity and usefulness, with 96% of messages rated positively by participants.

Patients expressed a desire for personalized messages, inclusion of e-cigarette information, and graphics, while also identifying gaps in knowledge about nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) safety and effectiveness, highlighting the importance of tailoring interventions to meet smokers' needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combining Real-Time Ratings With Qualitative Interviews to Develop a Smoking Cessation Text Messaging Program for Primary Care Patients. Kruse, G., Park, ER., Shahid, NN., et al.[2023]

The pilot test of Quit4baby, a smoking cessation text messaging program for pregnant women, showed that participants found it feasible and acceptable, with positive feedback on its content and support features.

Most participants reported that Quit4baby was helpful in their quitting efforts and expressed a willingness to recommend it to others, indicating potential for further development and testing of its effectiveness in promoting smoking cessation during pregnancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quit4baby: results from a pilot test of a mobile smoking cessation program for pregnant women. Abroms, LC., Johnson, PR., Heminger, CL., et al.[2022]

The SmokefreeTXT text-messaging intervention was well accepted by 32 adult nondaily smokers, leading to significant improvements in craving reduction and increased self-efficacy for abstinence after the program began.

Participants reported changes in their perceptions of smoking benefits, indicating that the intervention may help shift attitudes towards smoking, although engagement with the program's just-in-time features could be enhanced for better effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using the text-messaging program SmokefreeTXT to support smoking cessation for nondaily smokers. Hoeppner, BB., Hoeppner, SS., Schick, MR., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 924 smokers using the QuitTxt program, most participants (68.9%) preferred the default messaging frequency of 4-8 texts per day, and the median duration of use was 27 days, indicating a generally positive reception of the program.

Despite some users not fully reporting their quit status, many still found QuitTxt helpful, suggesting that consistent reporting may not be crucial for the program's effectiveness in supporting smoking cessation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How do smokers use a smoking cessation text messaging intervention? Balmford, J., Borland, R.[2018]

Automated mobile health programs like SmokefreeVET effectively support smoking cessation through text messaging, with nearly 7% of enrollees accessing suicide prevention resources.

Incorporating suicide prevention hotline referrals into smoking cessation mHealth interventions is recommended due to the significant overlap between smoking and suicide risk, enhancing the support provided to users.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Suicide Prevention Referrals in a Mobile Health Smoking Cessation Intervention. Christofferson, DE., Hamlett-Berry, K., Augustson, E.[2022]

A study involving 102 young adult smokers found that a smartphone application (REQ-Mobile) was feasible for smoking cessation support, with 75% of users rating it as user-friendly.

However, the text messaging system (onQ) was more effective in promoting abstinence, with a significant number of users reporting higher rates of quitting compared to those using the app.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized trial of a smartphone mobile application compared to text messaging to support smoking cessation. Buller, DB., Borland, R., Bettinghaus, EP., et al.[2022]

In a pilot study involving 600 smokers, those receiving gain-framed text messages (focused on the benefits of quitting) made more quit attempts (98%) compared to those receiving loss-framed messages (93%).

While the overall smoking cessation rates at 30 weeks were similar between the gain-framed (17%) and loss-framed (15%) groups, the gain-framed messages appeared to encourage more proactive quitting behavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quit4hlth: a preliminary investigation of tobacco treatment with gain-framed and loss-framed text messages for quitline callers. Rojewski, AM., Duncan, LR., Carroll, AJ., et al.[2022]

In a study of 8,487 participants in the SmokefreeTXT program, Black smokers were more likely to complete the program than White smokers, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.71, indicating higher program retention.

Despite higher completion rates, Black participants were less engaged overall, responding less frequently to assessments and reporting lower abstinence rates, suggesting the need for further research to identify barriers to effective engagement and cessation among Black smokers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Engagement and Short-term Abstinence Outcomes Among Blacks and Whites in the National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT Program. Robinson, CD., Wiseman, KP., Webb Hooper, M., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8976256/

User Experiences With an SMS Text Messaging Program ... SmokefreeTXT comprises 6 to 8 weeks of SMS text messages that provide cessation motivation, tips on preparing to quit, advice on managing ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9293135/

Effectiveness of an optimized text message and Internet ... To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined internet and text message intervention for smoking cessation compared with an internet intervention alone.

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02295-2

Efficacy of digital interventions for smoking cessation by ... SMS interventions demonstrated the highest efficacy (RR 1.63, 95% CI 1.38–1.92), indicating a 63% increased smoking cessation success compared ...

4. bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-03073-5

Effects of a text messaging smoking cessation intervention ... Access to a 12-week text messaging intervention produced higher self-reported smoking abstinence at 3 and 6 months post-randomisation amongst ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2801838

Assessment of a Text Message–Based Smoking Cessation ... In this study, the behavior change theory–based smoking cessation intervention using personalized text messages was more effective than an intervention using ...

6. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2022/11/e41658

Outcomes of a Comprehensive Mobile Smoking Cessation ... SMS text messaging with tobacco treatment specialists was negatively associated with quit outcomes at 6 months; however, the authors suggest ...

7. 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 ...