Public Education Messaging for Smoking

Overseen By Lilianna Phan, PhD, MPH, MS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Drexel University

Disqualifiers: Age, Ethnicity, Tobacco use, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 18

360 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests different types of public education messages to assess their impact on thoughts and behaviors about smoking cigarillos among Black young adults at risk of becoming regular smokers. Participants will receive messages about the health risks and addiction potential of cigarillos, while some will see messages on unrelated topics like food safety. The goal is to understand how these messages change perceptions and intentions regarding cigarillo use. Suitable participants are Black young adults who have tried cigarillos occasionally but do not smoke them daily and have never regularly used other tobacco products. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could shape future public health strategies.

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 cigarillo smoking behaviors and does not mention other medications.

What prior data suggests that this public education messaging is safe for Black young adults?

Research has shown that messages about the risks of smoking cigarillos, including health issues and nicotine addiction, are generally well-received by participants. Studies have found that graphic health warnings on cigarillos effectively convey these risks without causing major negative reactions. These messages address both long-term and short-term health effects, as well as social risks and the potential for addiction.

In trials using similar messaging strategies, participants reported no significant negative effects from receiving this information. Instead, these messages often increase awareness and sometimes encourage quitting attempts. While not a physical treatment, the messaging is safe because it informs without causing harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these public education messaging strategies because they offer a fresh approach to reducing cigarillo smoking by targeting the psychological and social aspects of tobacco use. Unlike traditional approaches that primarily focus on health warnings, these messages are tailored to highlight the immediate and long-term health risks, as well as social and personal consequences of smoking. One unique arm even contextualizes these risks against personal values and expected outcomes, such as the sensory experience of smoking or its impact on social persona. This personalized approach may engage smokers more effectively by resonating with their individual beliefs and experiences, potentially leading to a greater reduction in smoking behavior compared to standard health advisories.

What evidence suggests that this trial's messaging strategies could be effective for reducing cigarillo smoking intentions among Black young adults?

Research has shown that public education can help people understand the dangers of smoking cigarillos. In this trial, participants in the "Cigarillo Harm Messaging" arm will receive messages about the long-term, short-term, and social health risks, as well as nicotine addiction related to cigarillo smoking. Meanwhile, the "Cigarillo Harm Messages Contextualized to Outcome Expectancies" arm will provide messages tailored to themes such as smoking sensory experience and personal values. Studies have found that graphic health warnings on cigarillo packages can encourage quitting by highlighting health risks and nicotine addiction. Messages that explain both immediate and long-term health risks are particularly effective at changing perceptions of smoking. Additionally, discussing how smoking might conflict with personal values has proven effective with young adults. Past campaigns focusing on addiction have also helped people stop using tobacco. Overall, these strategies aim to change intentions and reduce smoking habits. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Black young adults aged 18-30 who have never regularly used tobacco products or currently smoke cigarillos occasionally. They must be able to read and write in English, with no history of regular use of other tobacco products.

Inclusion Criteria

Self-identify as non-Hispanic Black or African American ethnicity and race

Must be able to communicate, read, and write in the English language

I don't regularly use tobacco products.

Exclusion Criteria

Persons who do not self-identify as a non-Hispanic Black/African American person

I regularly use tobacco products.

Persons who are not deemed susceptible based on a valid susceptibility measure (i.e., not susceptible to cigarillo smoking)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive public education messages about cigarillo smoking risks or control messages about food safety

4 weeks

16 virtual visits (4 per week)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cigarillo harm perceptions, use intentions, and behaviors

3 months

2 virtual assessments (1-month and 3-month follow-up)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cigarillo Health Harm and Nicotine Addiction Messaging

Trial Overview The study tests the impact of two types of public education messages on cigarillo harm perceptions and smoking intentions among at-risk Black young adults. It's a randomized trial with three groups, tracking outcomes immediately and after one and three months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cigarillo Harm Messaging Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the harm messaging arm will receive messages about the 1) long-term health risks, 2) short-term health risks, 3) social health risks, and 4) nicotine addiction of cigarillo smoking. Four of the 16 total messages will be emailed with a survey link on four days each week for four weeks. Each week's 4 messages will be randomized and include one message from the four harm themes.

Group II: Cigarillo Harm Messages Contextualized to Outcome Expectancies Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the harm messaging contextualized to outcome expectancies arm will receive messages about the health harm and nicotine addiction risks of cigarillo smoking contextualized to one of the following themes: 1) smoking sensory experience, 2) anticipated pleasure, relaxation, and satisfaction from smoking, 3) social persona/admiration related to smoking, and 4) that smoking does not align with personal values and authenticity. Four of the 16 total messages will be emailed with a survey link on four days each week for four weeks. Each week's 4 messages will be randomized and include one message from the four harm themes.

Group III: Non-Tobacco Messages Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the control arm will receive messages about food safety. Four of the 16 total messages will be emailed with a survey link on four days each week for four weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Drexel University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

160

Recruited

48,600+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 30 young adult cigarillo users found that graphic and 'gross' images are more effective at capturing attention and discouraging cigarillo use when paired with text warnings.

Participants preferred images that directly illustrated the warning text and included relatable figures, such as young adults making eye contact, which enhanced emotional engagement and perceived effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing Pictorial Cigarillo Warnings: Insights From Focus Groups. Cornacchione Ross, J., King, JL., Lazard, AJ., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39320986

Relative Efficacy of Cigarillo Warning Statements in Text and ... The study suggests that pictorial HWLs with human imagery significantly enhance the communication of cigarillo smoking risks compared to images of diseased ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2837632

Little Cigar and Cigarillo Graphic Health Warnings ... This randomized clinical trial evaluates the effects of graphic health warnings on little cigars and cigarillos on promoting quitting ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06863168?term=AREA%5BBasicSearch%5D(AREA%5BBasicSearch%5D(AREA%5BBasicSearch%5D(drexel)))&rank=10

Cigarillo Public Education Messaging for Black Young Adults Messages will communicate the health harm and nicotine addiction risks of cigarillo smoking alone (i.e., long-term health risks, short-term health risks ...

4. maps.cancer.gov maps.cancer.gov/overview/DCCPSGrants/abstract.jsp?applId=10899902&term=CA272919

Effective Cigarillo Public Education Messaging for Black ... Public education messaging is one effective strategy to provide accurate health information and increase harm perceptions, prevent and reduce tobacco use, and ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12403382/

an elicitation survey on quitting little cigars and cigarillos by ... Research has shown that using addiction as a message theme can be effective in tobacco cessation campaigns, with messages highlighting ...

6. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/ntr/article-abstract/27/3/525/7775375

Relative Efficacy of Cigarillo Warning Statements in Text and ... The study suggests that pictorial HWLs with human imagery significantly enhance the communication of cigarillo smoking risks compared to images of diseased ...

7. scholarcommons.sc.edu scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1534&context=sph_health_promotion_education_behavior_facpub

Little Cigar and Cigarillo Graphic Health Warnings and ... The secondary outcomes were quitting behaviors, including quit attempts (“In the last 7 days, have you attempted to stop smoking cigars?”); ...