SmokingNCT01602536
Twitter-enabled Mobile Messaging for Smoking Relapse Prevention
A study testing smoking cessation aides and Twitter in people with Smoking, run by University of California, Irvine at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
We conducted a two-arm (test vs. control, N=160) randomized controlled trial of small, private, online support groups for quitting smoking with 20 people per group who were seeking to quit smoking. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 59 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Smoking
- What is being tested?
- smoking cessation aides and Twitter
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 160 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- Jan 2012to Jun 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 59 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- must have smoked 100 cigarettes during their lifetime
- must currently smoke 5 or more cigarettes a day
- must be in the preparation stage of quitting smoking
- ages 18-59 years
- English speaking
- have a mobile phone with an unlimited texting plan and internet access
Show all 10Show fewer
- use text messaging at least once a week
- use Facebook daily
- have an active email account
- live in the continental USA
Who cannot join
- a medical condition that is contra-indicated for nicotine replacement therapy:
- pregnant
- breast feeding
- a recent heart attack
- an irregular heartbeat
- high blood pressure not controlled with medication
Show all 10Show fewer
- skin allergies to adhesive tape or serious skin problems
- taking a prescription medicine for depression or anxiety
- use drugs or marijuana regularly
- live in the same household with another participant
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Hosted Study Website Tweet2Quit@Merage.Uci.Edu
Irvine, California, 92697
University of California Irvine
Irvine, California, 92697
About this study
We conducted a two-arm (test vs. control, N=160) randomized controlled trial of small, private, online support groups for quitting smoking with 20 people per group who were seeking to quit smoking. A novel feature was a bot (auto-messenger) that posted a daily cessation-related discussion topic in each group, timed to the group's quit date.
Read the detailed description
Smoking relapse rates remain high, innovative strategies are needed to lower them, and web-based social networking may help like Twitter. This developmental research examined whether providing virtual (web-based) social support to smokers, through Twitter-enabled interactive peer texting, could help smokers quit and avoid relapses. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, one of the most advanced and novel technologies available today that can provide social support to smokers, and it provides free texting to groups. It is global and has many features that are associated with treatment success including interactive, multi-way, live messaging and mobile accessibility, because the messages go instantly to mobile phones and to the web. It can provide an innovative way to reach smokers who might otherwise not seek treatment, and it can be extended to other health domains. From June 2012 through 2014, we conducted a two-condition randomized controlled trial. All participants in this trial (N=160) received 8 weeks of free nicotine patches, referral to the NCI's online Smokefree.gov Quit Guide, and instruction to set a quit date within 1 week of study start. Participants were also randomly assigned at the individual level to one of two conditions: (1) a virtual or online quit-smoking group on Twitter where the group members were instructed to use interactive peer messaging to help them quit and stay quit, or (2) a control group condition where the group members were not given this instruction or a Twitter group. In total, there were 4 Twitter groups and 4 control groups with 20 smokers randomly assigned to each group (i.e., N=80 test, N=80 control). In the Twitter groups, a bot (auto-messenger) posted a daily cessation-related discussion topic in each group, timed to the group's quit date. The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence that was sustained at 7, 30 and 60 days after the quit date. Participants' posts, their virtual and face-to-face social networks, and several other possible mediating and moderating variables were also analyzed.
- Conditions
- Smoking
- Being tested
- smoking cessation aides, Twitter
- Keywords
- twitter, quit smoking, smoking cessation, social media, peer support
- Medical subject headings
- Smoking, Smoking Cessation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
smoking cessation aidesBehavioural
All participants will receive 8 weeks of free nicotine patches, referral to the NCI's online Smokefree.gov Quit Guide, and instruction to set a quit date within 8 days of study start.
TwitterBehavioural
Twitter quit-smoking group
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental participants are assigned a 20-person twitter quit-smoking group to interact with, are instructed to use Twitter-enabled interactive peer messaging,and are sent daily messages to encourage interaction. The baseline intervention 'smoking cessation aides' is also provided. Receives: Behavioral: smoking cessation aides; Behavioral: Twitter | |
| Control | Active comparator | Control participants are not assigned to a twitter group. The baseline intervention 'smoking cessation aides' is also provided. Receives: Behavioral: smoking cessation aides |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Self-reported 7-day Point Prevalence Abstinence From Smoking That Was Sustained at 60 Days After the Quit Date
self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence from smoking that was sustained at 60 days after the quit date, based on survey
Measured: 60 days after quit date
Secondary outcomes (1)
Level of Engagement Based on Tweet Volume
level of engagement based on tweet volume which is observed in support groups
Measured: 100 days total
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 May 2012 (estimated)
- Study startJan 2012
- Primary completionJun 2014
- Study completionJun 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for SmokingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 160 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Irvine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Cornelia Pechmann, University of California, Irvine
- Investigators
- Cornelia Pechmann, PhD, Principal investigator, University of California, Irvine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01602536
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20107990
- Other IDs
- 1R34DA030538-01A1
- Status last verified
- Oct 2024
- First submitted
- 17 May 2012
- Last updated
- 31 Oct 2024
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Pechmann C, Delucchi K, Lakon CM, Prochaska JJ. Randomised controlled trial evaluation of Tweet2Quit: a social network quit-smoking intervention. Tob Control. 2017 Mar;26(2):188-194. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052768. Epub 2016 Feb 29.
PubMed 26928205Pechmann C, Pan L, Delucchi K, Lakon CM, Prochaska JJ. Development of a Twitter-based intervention for smoking cessation that encourages high-quality social media interactions via automessages. J Med Internet Res. 2015 Feb 23;17(2):e50. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3772.
PubMed 25707037
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Oct 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Twitter-enabled Mobile Messaging for Smoking Relapse Prevention
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01602536
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20107990
- Conditions
- Smoking
- Keywords
- twitter, quit smoking, smoking cessation, social media, peer support
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 160 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, IrvineUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Study start
- Jan 2012
- Primary completion
- Jun 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jun 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 May 2012 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 9 Oct 2024
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
We conducted a two-arm (test vs. control, N=160) randomized controlled trial of small, private, online support groups for quitting smoking with 20 people per group who were seeking to quit smoking. A novel feature was a bot (auto-messenger) that posted a daily cessation-related discussion topic in each group, timed to the group's quit date.
Detailed description
Smoking relapse rates remain high, innovative strategies are needed to lower them, and web-based social networking may help like Twitter. This developmental research examined whether providing virtual (web-based) social support to smokers, through Twitter-enabled interactive peer texting, could help smokers quit and avoid relapses. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, one of the most advanced and novel technologies available today that can provide social support to smokers, and it provides free texting to groups. It is global and has many features that are associated with treatment success including interactive, multi-way, live messaging and mobile accessibility, because the messages go instantly to mobile phones and to the web. It can provide an innovative way to reach smokers who might otherwise not seek treatment, and it can be extended to other health domains. From June 2012 through 2014, we conducted a two-condition randomized controlled trial. All participants in this trial (N=160) received 8 weeks of free nicotine patches, referral to the NCI's online Smokefree.gov Quit Guide, and instruction to set a quit date within 1 week of study start. Participants were also randomly assigned at the individual level to one of two conditions: (1) a virtual or online quit-smoking group on Twitter where the group members were instructed to use interactive peer messaging to help them quit and stay quit, or (2) a control group condition where the group members were not given this instruction or a Twitter group. In total, there were 4 Twitter groups and 4 control groups with 20 smokers randomly assigned to each group (i.e., N=80 test, N=80 control). In the Twitter groups, a bot (auto-messenger) posted a daily cessation-related discussion topic in each group, timed to the group's quit date. The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence that was sustained at 7, 30 and 60 days after the quit date. Participants' posts, their virtual and face-to-face social networks, and several other possible mediating and moderating variables were also analyzed.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Behavioral: smoking cessation aides, Behavioral: TwitterExperimental participants are assigned a 20-person twitter quit-smoking group to interact with, are instructed to use Twitter-enabled interactive peer messaging,and are sent daily messages to encourage interaction. The baseline intervention 'smoking cessation aides' is also provided. | |
| Control | Active comparator | Behavioral: smoking cessation aidesControl participants are not assigned to a twitter group. The baseline intervention 'smoking cessation aides' is also provided. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 59 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- must have smoked 100 cigarettes during their lifetime
- must currently smoke 5 or more cigarettes a day
- must be in the preparation stage of quitting smoking
- ages 18-59 years
- English speaking
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- a medical condition that is contra-indicated for nicotine replacement therapy:
- pregnant
- breast feeding
- a recent heart attack
- an irregular heartbeat
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| smoking cessation aidesAll participants will receive 8 weeks of free nicotine patches, referral to the NCI's online Smokefree.gov Quit Guide, and instruction to set a quit date within 8 days of study start. | Behavioural | Control, Twitter |
| TwitterTwitter quit-smoking group | Behavioural |
Primary outcome
Self-reported 7-day Point Prevalence Abstinence From Smoking That Was Sustained at 60 Days After the Quit Date
Time frame: 60 days after quit date
self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence from smoking that was sustained at 60 days after the quit date, based on survey
1 secondary outcome
Level of Engagement Based on Tweet Volume
Time frame: 100 days total
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Oct 2024.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26928205Pechmann C, Delucchi K, Lakon CM, Prochaska JJ. Randomised controlled trial evaluation of Tweet2Quit: a social network quit-smoking intervention. Tob Control. 2017 Mar;26(2):188-194. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052768. Epub 2016 Feb 29.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25707037Pechmann C, Pan L, Delucchi K, Lakon CM, Prochaska JJ. Development of a Twitter-based intervention for smoking cessation that encourages high-quality social media interactions via automessages. J Med Internet Res. 2015 Feb 23;17(2):e50. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3772.
- tweet2quit websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Cornelia Pechmann, PhD principal investigator
University of California, Irvine
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing smoking cessation aides and Twitter in people with Smoking, run by University of California, Irvine at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Oct 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 9 Oct 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Self-reported 7-day Point Prevalence Abstinence From Smoking That Was Sustained at 60 Days After the Quit Date (time frame: 60 days after quit date). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01602536, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Oct 2024.