A Virtual Arm to Stop Smoking

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

View full results

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

91 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-03-31

Study Completion Date

2009-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The investigators reported in a pilot study presented at last year's Cybertherapy Conference (Girard \& Turcotte, 2007) that using an action-cue exposure strategy in virtual reality (ACE-VR; crushing virtual cigarettes) might be useful in the treatment of tobacco addiction.

The investigators are pursuing research in this area with a randomized control trial based on 90 smokers who will receive a brief psychosocial smoking cessation program (25 people are enrolled so far and we expect to finish the study before the conference). During the first four weeks of an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program, all participants will be immersed in VR. During the immersions in VR, 45 of the participants will use a virtual arm to catch and crush virtual cigarettes. The other half of the sample will use the virtual arm to catch virtual fruits (control condition).

The smoking frequency, and abstinence, will be assessed with a daily diary and exhaled carbon monoxide tests (the CO2 tests will provide an objective confirmation of the abstinence reported in the diaries). The success the program will be compared based on the number of subjects who quitted or reduced their smoking frequency. The severity of addiction will be assessed with two questionnaires, the Fagerstrom and the Horn tests. Craving and withdrawal effects will be measured with the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) and the Brief Questionnaire of Smoking Urges (QSU-Brief) at the baseline and at the visits from weeks 1 through 4, 6, 12 and at the end of the program. Before the VR immersion, the Immersive Tendencies Questionnaire will be administered and after each VR session participants will fill two questionnaires addressing presence and cybersickness. The comparative impact of both treatments will be tested with repeated measures ANOVAs (and planned contrasts) with sufficient power to detect medium effect sizes.

The main goal of our study is show that crushing virtual cigarettes can boost the impact of a behavioural program dedicated to cigarette addiction.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Study of the Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Treatment in the Management of Smoking Cessation

NCT04610931

Tobacco Use Cessation

COMPLETED NA

Benefits of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Smoking Cessation Supported by Virtual Reality Smoking Cue Exposure

NCT03707106

Smoking Cessation

COMPLETED NA

Virtual Reality Cue Exposurefor the Relapse Prevention of Tobacco Consumption

NCT02205060

Chronic Tabagism

COMPLETED NA

Smoking Cessation Coaching in High-Risk Situations: A Virtual Reality Study

NCT05654545

Smoking Cessation

COMPLETED NA

Computer-Based Stop Smoking Program in Assisting Doctors in Helping Adults Stop Smoking

NCT00383461

Tobacco Use Disorder

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

A detailed description is available, in French, by contacting [email protected].

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Cigarette Smoking

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

1

All participants will receive an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program. During the first four weeks, all participants will be immersed in virtual reality (VR).

During the immersions in VR, 45 of the participants will use a virtual reality arm to catch and crush virtual cigarettes (on a computer).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

psychoeducational / motivational combined with crushing

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

All participants will receive an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program. During the first four weeks, all participants will be immersed in virtual reality (VR).

During the immersions in VR, 45 of the participants will use a virtual reality arm to catch and crush virtual cigarettes (on a computer).

2

All participants will receive an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program. During the first four weeks, all participants will be immersed in virtual reality (VR).

During the immersions in VR, the 45 participants in the control condition will use a virtual reality arm to catch and crush virtual fruits (on a computer).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

psychoeducational / motivational combined with control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

All participants will receive an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program. During the first four weeks, all participants will be immersed in virtual reality (VR).

During the immersions in VR, the 45 participants in the control condition will use a virtual reality arm to catch and crush virtual fruits (on a computer).

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

psychoeducational / motivational combined with crushing

All participants will receive an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program. During the first four weeks, all participants will be immersed in virtual reality (VR).

During the immersions in VR, 45 of the participants will use a virtual reality arm to catch and crush virtual cigarettes (on a computer).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

psychoeducational / motivational combined with control

All participants will receive an eight-session psychoeducational and motivational program. During the first four weeks, all participants will be immersed in virtual reality (VR).

During the immersions in VR, the 45 participants in the control condition will use a virtual reality arm to catch and crush virtual fruits (on a computer).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* adult smoker
* aged 18 - 65
* willing to stop smoking
* at least 10 cigarettes per day in the last year

Exclusion Criteria

* receiving concomitant treatment for smoking (e.g., patches or varenicline)
* weight problems : Body Mass Index \< 15 kg or \> 45.5 kg
* suffering from a mental disorder, such as major depression, schizophrenia, etc.

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes