Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Oklahoma

Disqualifiers: Not pregnant, Non-smoker, Under 18, others

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 tests whether small financial incentives can help pregnant women quit smoking more effectively. Participants will receive either standard care, which includes counseling and medication, or standard care plus financial rewards for attending coaching sessions and remaining smoke-free. The goal is to determine if these incentives improve quit rates compared to counseling alone. Pregnant women who smoke at least five cigarettes a day and have contacted the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline for support might be suitable candidates for this study.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative methods for supporting smoking cessation during pregnancy.

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 and does not mention any medication restrictions.

What prior data suggests that financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnancy are safe?

Research has shown that offering money to help people stop smoking is generally safe. In studies with pregnant women who smoke, these financial rewards helped them quit without harm. While not akin to taking medicine, these incentives encourage healthier choices. Importantly, they effectively motivate people to stop smoking, providing a significant health benefit. No major safety problems emerged in these studies, making financial incentives a well-accepted option for pregnant women who want to quit smoking. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy trial because it explores a unique approach to help pregnant individuals quit smoking. Unlike standard care, which typically includes counseling and pharmacotherapy, this method adds financial incentives to motivate participants to attend counseling sessions and maintain smoking abstinence. The idea is that these incentives could boost commitment and success rates, offering a potentially powerful tool to improve health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.

What evidence suggests that financial incentives could be effective for smoking cessation in pregnancy?

This trial will compare the effectiveness of standard care alone with standard care plus financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnant women. Studies have shown that financial incentives can help pregnant women quit smoking more effectively than without such incentives. Research indicates that women who receive financial rewards for staying smoke-free are more likely to quit. A review of 12 studies found that these rewards are highly effective during pregnancy. The financial benefits are significant; for every dollar spent on these rewards, over $4 is saved. Overall, financial incentives offer a cost-effective method to help expectant mothers stop smoking. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for pregnant women under 25 weeks along, who smoke at least 5 cigarettes daily, are over 18 years old, speak English, and have Medicaid. They must be seeking smoking cessation treatment through the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and willing to enroll in a program involving multiple calls.

Inclusion Criteria

are able to read, speak, and understand English

I can provide a photo ID.

contact the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline seeking smoking cessation treatment, and enroll in the multiple call program

Exclusion Criteria

participants will be excluded if they do not meet the inclusion criteria

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Prepartum Treatment

Participants receive up to 5 coaching calls over the first 8 weeks after enrolling, with financial incentives for completion and biochemically-verified smoking abstinence at 9 weeks post-enrollment

9 weeks

Remote assessments via smartphone

Postpartum Treatment

Participants are incentivized for completing a postpartum coaching call by 8 weeks postpartum

8 weeks

Remote assessments via smartphone

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for biochemically-verified smoking abstinence at 12 weeks post-enrollment and 12 weeks postpartum

12 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Standard Care + Financial Incentives

Trial Overview The study tests if small financial rewards can help pregnant women quit smoking. It compares standard care from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline with an added incentive program that gives escalating money rewards for attending coaching calls and proving they've stopped smoking.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Standard Care + Financial Incentives Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Financial Incentives participants will receive standard care plus incentives for completing counseling calls and abstinence.

Group II: Standard Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to Standard Care will be offered weekly counseling calls and pharmacotherapy.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Oklahoma

Lead Sponsor

Trials

484

Recruited

95,900+

Citations

1. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2831084

Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation in Pregnancy ... Financial incentives are incremental contingent rewards toward achieving desired behavior change, in this case tobacco smoking cessation.

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34853024/

Financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnancy Financial incentives to reward smoking abstinence compared with no financial incentives were associated with an increased abstinence rate in pregnant smokers.

3. tobaccocontrol.bmj.com tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2025/04/22/tc-2024-059198

Financial incentives for smoking cessation among ... Conclusions With the cost-effectiveness of financial incentives for smoking cessation among (expectant) parents already well-documented, this ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S009174352200127X

Economic analysis of financial incentives for smoking ... Financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnant women are cost-effective. · Financial incentives offer $4.20 or more in economic benefit for each dollar ...

5. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16487

Effect of 3 months and 12 months of financial incentives on ... In 2023, a review of 12 trials showed that offering financial incentives is highly effective for smoking cessation during pregnancy, with those ...

6. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820672

Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation Among ... A 2019 review26 concluded that offering incentives for smoking cessation improves long-term abstinence rates even after discontinuing ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7023794/

The smoking cessation in pregnancy incentives trial (CPIT) UK national guidelines highlight lack of evidence for effectiveness of financial incentives to help pregnant smokers quit.

8. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02210832

Study Details | NCT02210832 | Financial Incentives for ... In a metaanalysis of treatments for smoking during pregnancy, effect sizes achieved with financial incentives were several fold larger than those achieved with ...