Mobile Text Messaging Support for Smoking Cessation

Overseen By Vivian Cortez, MS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Disqualifiers: Not interested quitting, Handicap, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 6 months

1200 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests Quitxt, a mobile program that sends supportive texts and chat messages to help young Latino adults quit smoking. The study focuses on this group because they have high smoking rates and face significant health risks. Quitxt aims to boost users' confidence and skills to quit smoking through culturally relevant messages. Text messaging programs on mobile phones have shown some promise in helping people quit smoking.

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 smoking cessation support through text messaging.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Quitxt for smoking cessation?

Research shows that text messaging is an effective way to help people quit smoking. Studies have found that text-based programs, like Quitxt, can successfully support smoking cessation by providing timely advice and motivation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is mobile text messaging support for smoking cessation safe for humans?

The studies on mobile text messaging programs for smoking cessation, like Quitxt and Text2Quit, do not report any safety concerns. Participants generally found these programs helpful and engaging, suggesting they are safe to use. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How is the Quitxt treatment for smoking cessation unique?

Quitxt is unique because it uses mobile text messaging to provide interactive, automated support for quitting smoking, offering personalized advice and emergency help, which is different from traditional methods like nicotine patches or counseling. ^{1 2 9 10 11}

Research Team

Patricia Chalela, DrPH

Principal Investigator

University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio

Eligibility Criteria

This study is for Latino young adults aged 18-29 who smoke at least one cigarette a day, want to quit smoking, own a cell phone with text and internet capabilities, and can provide follow-up data. They should not be in another cessation program or planning to move from the study area during the trial.

Inclusion Criteria

Smoking at least one cigarette/day ≥3 days/week

Own a cell phone or smartphone

Able to send and receive text messages and access the Internet

Exclusion Criteria

Do not own a cell phone with text and Internet capabilities

I am not interested in quitting smoking.

I am unable to understand the consent information due to a condition.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the Quitxt intervention or usual care for smoking cessation

6 months

Baseline and follow-up assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for smoking cessation through self-reports and biochemical verification

6 months

Follow-up assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Quitxt

Trial Overview The Quitxt research study tests a mobile text messaging intervention designed to help young Latino adults stop smoking. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either interactive Quitxt messages or standard texts with cessation content plus referral to an existing state health service program.

Participant Groups

Group I: Usual care Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Abbreviated text messaging with smoking cessation-related content and referral to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) cessation program Yes Quit (www.yesquit.org) available to smokers seeking help quitting. The abbreviated text messaging will include general information on smoking harms and benefits of cessation, and baseline data collection and follow-up assessments.

Group II: Quitxt bilingual text messaging and chat Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Culturally and linguistically tailored, bilingual text messaging or chat mobile app. Our text messaging or chat intervention will include messaging options in which users can text or message a code when they are craving a cigarette or at risk of relapse and immediately receive text or social media messages to help them avoid smoking. The social media content also will include opportunities for users to repeatedly visit key content pages and receive immediate support when experiencing cravings, stress, bad mood, or when feeling at risk of smoking.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Lead Sponsor

Trials

486

Recruited

92,500+

Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas

Collaborator

Trials

55

Recruited

98,900+

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Collaborator

Trials

24

Recruited

7,600+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

The Text2Quit program, which sends personalized text messages and emails to support smoking cessation, was well-received by university students, with 90.5% liking the program at 2 weeks and 82.3% at 4 weeks after enrollment.

Participants engaged actively with the program, averaging 11.8 responses to texts in the first 4 weeks, indicating that the interactive features, especially tracking cigarette use, were effective in maintaining user involvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Text2Quit: results from a pilot test of a personalized, interactive mobile health smoking cessation program. Abroms, LC., Ahuja, M., Kodl, Y., et al.[2022]

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]

A text-based Scheduled Gradual Reduction (SGR) program for smoking cessation was found to be feasible and acceptable among rural adults over 60, with 81% of participants reading all messages.

While the SGR group showed a higher biochemically validated cessation rate (15%) compared to the control group (5%), the difference was not statistically significant, indicating potential effectiveness that warrants further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of a text-based smoking cessation intervention in rural older adults. Noonan, D., Silva, S., Njuru, J., et al.[2019]

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]

The Stop My Smoking (SMS) USA program, a text messaging-based intervention, significantly increased smoking cessation rates among young adults aged 18 to 25, with 39% of participants quitting at 4 weeks compared to 21% in the control group.

While the initial success at 4 weeks was promising, the difference in cessation rates was not maintained at 3 months, indicating the need for further research to understand the long-term effectiveness and identify which users benefit most from the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot RCT results of stop my smoking USA: a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. Ybarra, ML., Holtrop, JS., Prescott, TL., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How do smokers use a smoking cessation text messaging intervention? [2018]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized trial of a smartphone mobile application compared to text messaging to support smoking cessation. [2022]

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

Feasibility and Smokers' Evaluation of Self-Generated Text Messages to Promote Quitting. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Text2Connect: a health system approach to engage tobacco users in quitline cessation services via text messaging. [2023]

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

Large multi-centre pilot randomized controlled trial testing a low-cost, tailored, self-help smoking cessation text message intervention for pregnant smokers (MiQuit). [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Text2Quit: results from a pilot test of a personalized, interactive mobile health smoking cessation program. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Analysing user-reported data for enhancement of SmokefreeTXT: a national text message smoking cessation intervention. [2018]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of a text-based smoking cessation intervention in rural older adults. [2019]

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

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

10. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Continuous individual support of smoking cessation in socially deprived young adults via mobile phones--results of a pilot study]. [2017]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot RCT results of stop my smoking USA: a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for young adults. [2022]