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Tobacco UseNCT05207033

Responses to Regulated E-Cigarette Advertisements

A study testing Regulated ad condition and Unregulated ad condition in people with Tobacco Use, run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

While conventional cigarette use continues to decline among youth and young adults, e-cigarette (EC) use is on the rise. Specifically, the investigators will conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) where young adults are randomized to one of two conditions: 1) a regulated ad environment, with high impact EC ad… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 26 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Tobacco Use
What is being tested?
Regulated ad condition and Unregulated ad condition
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
195 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Apr 2022to 1 Jul 2024
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 26 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • 18 to 26 years old,
  • fluent in English (earn a score of at least 4 on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine)
  • biochemically confirmed abstinence of alcohol (BrAC=.00) and combusted tobacco or marijuana exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO<6 parts per million) at time of visit,
  • reporting never trying an e-cigarette, not even a puff OR reporting tried and e-cigarette in the past but not in the past 30 days. Susceptibility to EC use, will be determined using the Susceptibility to Use Tobacco Products questionnaire, with only those identifying anything besides "no curiosity/interest" to all three susceptibility questions as susceptible users.

Who cannot join

  • Out of age range 18-26 years
  • Use of an e-cigarette in past 30 days
  • Pregnant women

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • UMass Chan Medical School Stevens Lab

    Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Young Adults' Responses to E-Cigarette Advertisement Features and the Effect of Restricting Features on Tobacco Use - Phase 2

While conventional cigarette use continues to decline among youth and young adults, e-cigarette (EC) use is on the rise. Specifically, the investigators will conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) where young adults are randomized to one of two conditions: 1) a regulated ad environment, with high impact EC ad features removed or 2) an unregulated ad environment, with high impact EC ad features left intact. Participants will view EC ads embedded in an online magazine 24 times over the course of 6 months. EC experimentation and sustained use will be the primary outcome of interest.

Read the detailed description

While conventional cigarette use continues to decline among youth and young adults, e-cigarette (EC) use is on the rise. The use of ECs during young adulthood, particularly 18 years of age, is especially alarming because it is not only a critical period in development but also a time when tobacco use is established. Additionally, the tobacco industry targets individuals of this age with the hope that they will one day progress to using combustible cigarettes. Advertising may be one of the reasons leading young people to use ECs, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now has the authority to regulate EC advertisement features. The goal of the proposed study is to determine which EC ad features most strongly influence young adults' attitudes, susceptibility, and intentions to use ECs, and determine if the restriction of these ad features influences EC attitudes, experimentation, and sustained use. The investigators will experimentally estimate the causal effect of restricting high impact EC ad features on tobacco use behavior. Specifically, the investigators will conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) where young adults are randomized to one of two conditions: 1) a regulated ad environment, with high impact EC ad features removed or 2) an unregulated ad environment, with high impact EC ad features left intact. Participants will view EC ads embedded in an online magazine 24 times over the course of 6 months. EC experimentation and sustained use will be the primary outcome of interest. We will also examine how sensation seeking, impulsivity, and sleep health impact EC use. Findings from this study will provide public health officials important and urgently needed information as to what advertising features are contributing to the sharp rise in the use of ECs among young adults, and if restrictions reduce the use of ECs among young adults.

Conditions
Tobacco Use
Being tested
Regulated ad condition, Unregulated ad condition
Medical subject headings
Tobacco Use

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Regulated ad conditionOther

    This intervention will determine if restriction of appealing features in e-cigarette ads deter young adults from trying the product.

  • Unregulated ad conditionOther

    This intervention will determine if unrestricted appealing features in e-cigarette ads deter young adults from trying the product.

Study groups in NCT05207033
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Unregulated ad conditionActive comparatorThis arm will include exposure to unregulated e-cigarette ads or ads as they appear in modern media.
Receives: Other: Unregulated ad condition
Regulated ad conditionExperimentalThis arm will include exposure to regulated e-cigarette ads or ads where we have taken out the appealing features.
Receives: Other: Regulated ad condition

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Tobacco Use at 1 Month

    Use of any tobacco products

    Measured: 1 month

  2. Tobacco Use at 3 Months

    Use of any tobacco products

    Measured: 3 months

  3. Tobacco Use at 6 Months

    Use of any tobacco products

    Measured: 6 months

  4. Perceived Severity of Using E-Cigarettes at 1 Month

    Perceived severity of using e-cigarettes, a subconstruct of the Health Belief Model was assessed by participants' perceived significance, severity, and seriousness of health threats from e-cigarette use. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    Please rate the following statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

    I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is severe. I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is serious. I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is significant.

    To determine score, the average is taken of the items. Minimum Score = 1; Maximum Score = 5 Higher scores indicate greater perceived severity of e-cigarette use. Lower scores indicate lesser perceived severity of e-cigarette use.

    Measured: 1 month

  5. Perceived Severity of Using E-Cigarettes at 3 Months

    Perceived severity of using e-cigarettes, a subconstruct of the Health Belief Model was assessed by participants' perceived significance, severity, and seriousness of health threats from e-cigarette use. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    Please rate the following statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

    I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is severe. I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is serious. I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is significant.

    To determine score, the average is taken of the items. Minimum Score = 1; Maximum Score = 5 Higher scores indicate greater perceived severity of e-cigarette use. Lower scores indicate lesser perceived severity of e-cigarette use.

    Measured: 3 months

  6. Perceived Severity of Using E-Cigarettes at 6 Months

    Perceived severity of using e-cigarettes, a subconstruct of the Health Belief Model was assessed by participants' perceived significance, severity, and seriousness of health threats from e-cigarette use. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    Please rate the following statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).

    I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is severe. I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is serious. I believe that the health threat of using e-cigarettes is significant.

    To determine score, the average is taken of the items. Minimum Score = 1; Maximum Score = 5 Higher scores indicate greater perceived severity of e-cigarette use. Lower scores indicate lesser perceived severity of e-cigarette use.

    Measured: 6 months

  7. Motivation to Avoid E-Cigarettes at 1 Month

    Motivation to avoid e-cigarettes was assessed by participants' self-reported importance, confidence, readiness, and commitment to avoid e-cigarette use in the future. These items reflect constructs from behavior change theories such as the Transtheoretical Model, which emphasizes individual readiness and self-efficacy as key predictors of behavioral intention and action. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    Please rate the following statements on a scale from 0 to 10. 0 = Not at all 10 = Very

    How important is it to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    How confident are you in avoiding e-cigarettes in the future?

    How ready are you to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    How committed are you to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    To determine score, the average is taken across the four items. Minimum Score = 0; Maximum Score = 10 Higher scores indicate greater motivation to avoid e-cigarette use. Lower scores indicate lesser motivation.

    Measured: 1 Month

  8. Motivation to Avoid E-Cigarettes at 3 Months

    Motivation to avoid e-cigarettes was assessed by participants' self-reported importance, confidence, readiness, and commitment to avoid e-cigarette use in the future. These items reflect constructs from behavior change theories such as the Transtheoretical Model, which emphasizes individual readiness and self-efficacy as key predictors of behavioral intention and action. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    Please rate the following statements on a scale from 0 to 10. 0 = Not at all 10 = Very

    How important is it to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    How confident are you in avoiding e-cigarettes in the future?

    How ready are you to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    How committed are you to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    To determine score, the average is taken across the four items. Minimum Score = 0; Maximum Score = 10 Higher scores indicate greater motivation to avoid e-cigarette use. Lower scores indicate lesser motivation.

    Measured: 3 Months

  9. Motivation to Avoid E-Cigarettes at 6 Months

    Motivation to avoid e-cigarettes was assessed by participants' self-reported importance, confidence, readiness, and commitment to avoid e-cigarette use in the future. These items reflect constructs from behavior change theories such as the Transtheoretical Model, which emphasizes individual readiness and self-efficacy as key predictors of behavioral intention and action. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    Please rate the following statements on a scale from 0 to 10. 0 = Not at all 10 = Very

    How important is it to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    How confident are you in avoiding e-cigarettes in the future?

    How ready are you to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    How committed are you to avoid e-cigarettes in the future?

    To determine score, the average is taken across the four items. Minimum Score = 0; Maximum Score = 10 Higher scores indicate greater motivation to avoid e-cigarette use. Lower scores indicate lesser motivation.

    Measured: 6 Months

  10. Behavioral Intentions at 1 Month

    Behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes were assessed using participants' self-reported interest and willingness to engage in future e-cigarette use. This construct is grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, which identifies behavioral intention as the most immediate and reliable predictor of future behavior. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    How interested are you in trying e-cigarettes?

    How willing are you to try e-cigarettes?

    How willing would you be to purchase an e-cigarette?

    How willing would you be to try an e-cigarette if a friend offered you one?

    Responses were rated on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very). To determine score, the average is taken across the four items. Minimum Score = 1; Maximum Score = 5 Higher scores indicate stronger behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes. Lower scores indicate weaker intentions.

    Measured: 1 month

  11. Behavioral Intentions at 3 Months

    Behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes were assessed using participants' self-reported interest and willingness to engage in future e-cigarette use. This construct is grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, which identifies behavioral intention as the most immediate and reliable predictor of future behavior. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    How interested are you in trying e-cigarettes?

    How willing are you to try e-cigarettes?

    How willing would you be to purchase an e-cigarette?

    How willing would you be to try an e-cigarette if a friend offered you one?

    Responses were rated on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very). To determine score, the average is taken across the four items. Minimum Score = 1; Maximum Score = 5 Higher scores indicate stronger behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes. Lower scores indicate weaker intentions.

    Measured: 3 months

  12. Behavioral Intentions at 6 Months

    Behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes were assessed using participants' self-reported interest and willingness to engage in future e-cigarette use. This construct is grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, which identifies behavioral intention as the most immediate and reliable predictor of future behavior. The measure is as follows in its exact and unabbreviated form:

    How interested are you in trying e-cigarettes?

    How willing are you to try e-cigarettes?

    How willing would you be to purchase an e-cigarette?

    How willing would you be to try an e-cigarette if a friend offered you one?

    Responses were rated on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very). To determine score, the average is taken across the four items. Minimum Score = 1; Maximum Score = 5 Higher scores indicate stronger behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes. Lower scores indicate weaker intentions.

    Measured: 6 months

  13. Number of Participants With Biochemical Verification of Tobacco Use at 1 Month

    Biochemical confirmation of tobacco use was conducted using the Alere iScreen Oral Fluid Device (OFD), a point-of-care saliva test that detects cotinine, a primary metabolite of nicotine, indicating tobacco or nicotine product use within the past ~3 days. The count reflects participants who tested positive for cotinine, providing biochemical evidence of recent tobacco or nicotine exposure.

    Measured: 1 month

  14. Number of Participants With Biochemical Verification of Tobacco Use at 3 Months

    Biochemical confirmation of tobacco use was conducted using the Alere iScreen Oral Fluid Device (OFD), a point-of-care saliva test that detects cotinine, a primary metabolite of nicotine, indicating tobacco or nicotine product use within the past ~3 days. The count reflects participants who tested positive for cotinine, providing biochemical evidence of recent tobacco or nicotine exposure.

    Measured: 3 months

  15. Number of Participants With Biochemical Verification of Tobacco Use at 6 Months

    Biochemical confirmation of tobacco use was conducted using the Alere iScreen Oral Fluid Device (OFD), a point-of-care saliva test that detects cotinine, a primary metabolite of nicotine, indicating tobacco or nicotine product use within the past ~3 days. The count reflects participants who tested positive for cotinine, providing biochemical evidence of recent tobacco or nicotine exposure.

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Jan 2022
  2. Study start1 Apr 2022
  3. Primary completion4 Jun 2024
  4. Study completion1 Jul 2024

Resources

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
Factorial
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
195 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05207033
Sponsor's protocol ID
H00022520
Other IDs
4R00DA046563-04
Status last verified
May 2025
First submitted
15 Dec 2021
Last updated
30 May 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Regulated ad condition and Unregulated ad condition in people with Tobacco Use, run by University of Massachusetts, Worcester at 1 site 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 4 inclusion and 3 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 30 May 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site 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 30 May 2025). 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?

Tobacco Use at 1 Month (time frame: 1 month). The study lists 15 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 30 May 2025.

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