Vaping Prevention Ads for Adolescents and Young Adults

Overseen By Seth Noar, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Live outside United States

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of vaping prevention ads for young people who might start or are already vaping. Participants will watch selected video ads and share their thoughts on the ads' impact in discouraging vaping. The trial includes a follow-up survey to assess participants' recall of the ads and any changes in their thoughts on vaping. It suits 13 to 20-year-olds in the U.S. who currently vape or are open to trying it. As an unphased trial, this study offers young people a unique opportunity to contribute to important research that could shape future vaping prevention strategies.

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. It seems unlikely, as the study focuses on viewing ads and surveys about vaping.

What prior data suggests that these vaping prevention video ads are safe for adolescents and young adults?

Research has shown that young people generally respond well to vaping prevention video ads. These ads aim to make vaping less appealing and do not involve physical treatments or medications. One study found that these ads can decrease young people's interest in trying vaping. Another report showed that anti-vaping campaigns reduced the desire to use e-cigarettes among young people. Since watching these ads doesn't involve taking any substances, no negative effects have been reported. This makes them a safe option for those interested in joining this study, as participants will only watch videos and provide feedback. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about vaping prevention video ads because they offer a fresh approach to tackling vaping among adolescents and young adults. While traditional methods focus on counseling or nicotine replacement therapies, these video ads aim to directly influence behavior by using engaging, relatable content to deter vaping before it starts. This method leverages modern digital media to reach young people in a format they are familiar with, potentially making it more effective and appealing than conventional strategies.

What evidence suggests that vaping prevention video ads are effective for reducing vaping among adolescents and young adults?

Studies have shown that ads aimed at preventing vaping can change young people's perceptions. In this trial, participants will view vaping prevention video ads. Previous research, including "The Real Cost" vaping prevention ads, demonstrated that young people developed more negative views of vaping and were less likely to start. One study showed these ads made young people less interested in vaping. Another study found that those who watched these ads were less likely to begin using e-cigarettes. These ads work by making vaping seem less attractive and altering beliefs about its dangers. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Youjin Jang, PhD

Principal Investigator

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sarah Kowitt, PhD

Principal Investigator

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Seth Noar, PhD

Principal Investigator

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for US adolescents aged 13-17 and young adults aged 18-20 who are either at risk of starting to vape or are current vapers. The study aims to understand how effective different vaping prevention ads are on these individuals.

Inclusion Criteria

Live in the United States

I have used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days or might start vaping.

I am between 13 and 20 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Live outside of the United States

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Online screening

Baseline Survey

Participants complete an online survey and view five randomly selected vaping prevention ads, rating each on perceived message effectiveness and responding to questions about vaping appeal and urge to vape.

15-20 minutes

1 online survey

Follow-up Survey

A subset of participants complete a follow-up survey around two weeks after the baseline survey, viewing six videos including a decoy ad, and indicating recognition of previously viewed ads.

10-15 minutes

1 online survey

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Vaping prevention video ads

Trial Overview The study tests the perceived effectiveness of various vaping prevention video ads. Participants will watch five ads, rate them, and answer questions about their appeal and urge to vape. A follow-up survey will ask them to recall the ads after two weeks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Vaping Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Adolescents and young adults who are susceptible to vaping or currently vape.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

377

Recruited

95,900+

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Collaborator

Trials

2,658

Recruited

3,409,000+

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Collaborator

Trials

184

Recruited

1,553,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7901805/

Evaluating the Actual and Perceived Effectiveness of E ... Exposure to The Real Cost vaping prevention ads gave adolescents a more negative view of vaping and lowered their intentions to vape compared to control videos.

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797258

Impact of Vaping Prevention Advertisements on US ... In this randomized clinical trial that included 1514 adolescents, Real Cost vaping prevention advertisements reduced susceptibility to vaping compared with ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379725000716

The Impact of “The Real Cost” on E-cigarette Initiation ... Youth with higher exposure to “The Real Cost” E-cigarette Prevention Campaign ads were less likely to initiate e-cigarettes during the study ...

4. tobaccoinduceddiseases.org tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Evidence-synthesis-of-effective-e-cigarette-prevention-messages-for-adolescents-and,208097,0,2.html

Evidence synthesis of effective e-cigarette prevention ... Primary outcome measures included perceived message effectiveness (PME) and e-cigarette-related knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral ...

5. tobaccocontrol.bmj.com tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/32/e2/e228

Perceived effectiveness of objective elements of vaping ... The purpose of the current study was to identify and test a large set of vaping prevention ads used by federal, state, local and non-governmental agencies, ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9561946/

Impact of Vaping Prevention Advertisements on US ... These findings suggest that vaping prevention advertisements reduced the extent to which youth were open to vaping and also had beneficial ...

7. medicine.yale.edu medicine.yale.edu/news-article/how-vaping-social-media-promotion-target-teens/

How Social Media Promotion of Vaping Targets Teens Studies have shown adolescents who see tobacco-related content on social media channels are significantly more susceptible to start vaping than ...

8. fda.gov fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey-nyts

Results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey ... The findings showed current e-cigarette use decrease from 2.13 million (7.7%) youth in 2023 to 1.63 million (5.9%) youth in 2024. Furthermore, ...

9. ajpmonline.org ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(23)00389-6/fulltext

Interventions for Preventing E-Cigarette Use Among ... Association between initial use of e-cigarettes and subsequent cigarette smoking among adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

10. tobaccocontrol.bmj.com tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/34/1/59

Reducing e-cigarette use among youth and young adults Exposure to the truth anti-e-cigarette campaign is associated with significantly lower odds of intentions to use and current use of e-cigarette among YYA.