Messaging Strategies for Vaping

Overseen By Donghee N Lee, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Disqualifiers: Age, English fluency, Platform membership

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 20 minutes

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to identify the most effective way to communicate the risks of vaping to young adults using various message styles and sources, such as experts or peers. Participants will receive either one-sided messages, presenting a single viewpoint, or two-sided messages, offering both sides of the argument. The trial targets young adults aged 18-24 who either vape or are at risk of starting. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to important research that could influence future public health messaging.

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

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

What prior data suggests that these messaging strategies are safe for young adults?

Research shows that vaping, especially with e-cigarettes, raises safety concerns. E-cigarettes often contain nicotine, which can be addictive and harmful. Studies have found that using both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes may increase the risk of lung cancer more than using regular cigarettes alone.

Discussions about vaping focus on how information is shared to educate people about the risks of e-cigarettes. Since no direct medical treatment is involved, the emphasis is on understanding and changing behavior rather than addressing side effects from a medical procedure.

Overall, understanding the potential harms of vaping and how information can guide decisions is crucial. The information provided aims to promote learning and awareness, not serve as a medical treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it's exploring new ways to educate people about the risks of e-cigarettes through messaging strategies. Unlike traditional health campaigns that deliver a one-size-fits-all message, this trial is testing how different sources and sides of a message can influence understanding and behavior. By tailoring messages to be either one-sided or two-sided and testing different sources, such as healthcare professionals versus peers, this approach aims to see which method is more effective in changing perceptions about vaping. This could lead to more impactful public health strategies and ultimately help reduce e-cigarette use.

What evidence suggests that this trial's messaging strategies could be effective for vaping?

Research shows that effective communication can change vaping habits in young adults. This trial will explore different messaging strategies. Participants in the "Sidedness" arm will receive e-cigarette education messages manipulated in one of two sidedness types, while those in the "Source" arm will receive messages manipulated in one of two source types. One study found that text message programs helped people aged 18 to 24 quit vaping more effectively than surveys alone. Another study found that text-only warnings about e-cigarettes improved understanding of the risks. Additionally, research on social media platforms like TikTok showed that emotional messages can influence young people's decision to stop vaping. Overall, these findings suggest that well-designed messages can significantly help reduce e-cigarette use among youth. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Donghee N Lee, PhD

Principal Investigator

UMass Chan Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for US residents aged 18-24 who speak English fluently. Participants must have either used e-cigarettes in the past month or not used them but are open to trying. It's aimed at understanding how young adults respond to different vaping messages.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a US resident aged between 18 and 24.

Reporting either vaping in the past 30 days or susceptible to vaping

Fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

I am not fluent in English.

Not a member of partnering crowdsourcing behavioral research platform conducting the study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive e-cigarette education messages manipulated in sidedness and source types

20 minutes

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for responses to e-cigarette education messages

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• E-cigarette Message Source and Presentation

Trial Overview The study is examining how effective various message sources (expert vs peer) and styles (one-sided vs two-sided arguments) are on influencing young adults' views on vaping, whether they currently vape or might consider it.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Source Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in source arm will receive e-cigarette education messages manipulated in one of two source types.

Group II: Sidedness Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in sidedness arm will receive e-cigarette education messages manipulated in one of two sidedness types.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

372

Recruited

998,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8129897/

Effectiveness of a Vaping Cessation Text Message ... This randomized clinical trial determines the effectiveness of a text message program for vaping cessation among young adults aged 18 to 24 years vs assessment ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40455487/

Effectiveness of Text-Only E-Cigarette Warnings: A Meta- ... Main outcomes and measures: The outcomes were attention, negative affect, and effects perceptions (message processing); addiction, risk, and ...

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2834773

Effectiveness of Text-Only E-Cigarette Warnings This meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness of text-only e-cigarette warnings on message processing, risk belief, and behavioral intention ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1054139X2400404X

Effects of Message Frames and Sources in TikTok Videos ... The study examined how emotional responses and perceived message effectiveness (PME) mediate the framing effect on youth intention to quit vaping.

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10410236.2024.2352284

Health Messaging Strategies for Vaping Prevention and ... This systematic review evaluates health messaging strategies for the prevention and cessation of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults.

6. cancer.org cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/tobacco/e-cigarettes-vaping.html

E-cigarettes and Vaping | Health Risks of E- ... Recent research indicates that people who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes have a higher risk of getting lung cancer than people who only use cigarettes.

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853221000675

What's in the message? An analysis of themes and ... Vaping prevention messages for youth have commonly focused on addiction and health risks of vaping, and they vary on a series of text and image features.

8. nida.nih.gov nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/vaping-devices-electronic-cigarettes

Vaping Devices (Electronic Cigarettes) DrugFacts - nida.nih.gov A plain-language research summary that describes how e-cigarettes work, how safe they are compared to traditional cigarettes, ...

9. cdc.gov cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/index.html

E-Cigarettes (Vapes) | Smoking and Tobacco Use Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Get the facts about e-cigarettes, their health effects, and the risks of vaping.

10. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5469426/

Electronic Cigarettes. Potential Harms and Benefits - PMC This review highlights the recent data regarding electronic cigarette toxicity, impact on lung function, and efficacy in smoking reduction and cessation.