Videogame-based Incentives for Smoking Cessation

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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

Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

24 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-05-08

Study Completion Date

2018-07-30

Brief Summary

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

Investigators will be evaluating an online video-game-based smoking cessation intervention that will overcome barriers to treatment such as cost and sustainability. This videogame will be the first of its kind, based on an evidence-based intervention shown to promote smoking abstinence. The findings from this research will be of great public health significance because of the unprecedented reach and relatively low cost, as well as the potential for similar interventions to be developed for other health problems, such as alcohol or drug abuse and medication adherence for chronic illnesses

Related Clinical Trials

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

Inspired: Smartphone Videogame-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention

NCT03929003

Smoking Cessation

COMPLETED NA

Development of a Videogame Prototype Targeting Cigarette and Marijuana Smoking, and Tobacco Product Prevention Among Young Adolescents

NCT03107936

Smoking

COMPLETED NA

Internet-based Group Contingency Management to Promote Smoking Abstinence

NCT01181661

Cigarette Smoking

COMPLETED NA

Technological Innovations in Behavioral Treatments for Cigarette Smoking

NCT00926939

Cigarette Smoking

COMPLETED NA

Pilot Trial of a Game Embedded in a Smartphone App for Smoking Cessation

NCT05227027

Cigarette Smoking-Related Carcinoma

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

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

Cigarette smoking remains the number one cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the U.S. A number of barriers have been noted that prevent access to smoking cessation interventions, such as lack of clinician training, the time commitment required to implement treatments, and the costs associated with treatment. Thus, it is critically important that more effective interventions be developed, and be made accessible at a relatively low cost, to smokers. We recently developed an Internet-based Contingency Management Intervention (CM),, where participants submit web-camera recorded videos as they exhale into a CO monitor, and they earn money for abstinence. Although the costs associated with providing monetary incentives contingent on smoking abstinence are likely to be less than the costs associated with medical complications caused by smoking, the cost of incentives is often cited as a barrier to CM. Thus, the goals of the present proposal are to markedly decrease costs and increase sustainability of this highly accessible Internet-based CM for smoking cessation.

Using an iterative development process with the help of a team of experts, a social strategy video game intended to be fun and engaging will be developed for Facebook ("Quitters, Incorporated"). Treatment-seeking smokers will be able to earn incentives contingent on meeting web-camera verified CO values consistent with smoking abstinence. Three powerful, evidence-based incentives will be harnessed in this CM. The incentives will consist of: (1) individual contingencies that can be used to improve game play, (2) social contingencies, such as positive feedback and virtual rewards, that can be given to other players to acknowledge their success with abstinence and improve their game play, and (3) group contingencies that will require all members of a group to meet abstinence goals in order to unlock access to certain game features. After game development, we will assess the feasibility, acceptability, enjoyability, and preliminary efficacy of video-game-based CM for smoking cessation. A 7-week pilot study will involve randomly assigning participants (N=100) to either: (1) abstinent contingent, where incentives will be delivered contingent on quitting smoking, or (2) submission contingent, where incentives will be delivered contingent on submitting videos, but independent of quitting smoking.

The outcomes of the pilot study will impact future research in the development of video-game-based CM interventions for smoking, as well as for alcohol and other drug use, and medication compliance in diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. Game-based CM will promote widespread access to this innovative, fun, sustainable intervention at a relatively low cost (the game will be available to play for free), thereby offering the potential to have a substantial public health impact.

Conditions

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

Smoking Cessation

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

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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

Contingent

Patients will earn game-based incentives contingent on meeting carbon monoxide goals.

Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Patients will enroll in a videogame that is intended to help them quit smoking. They will be given goals for quitting (based on carbon monoxide readings submitted over a secure internet server) and will earn game-based incentives either contingent or noncontingent on meeting those goals.

Non-contingent

Patients will earn game-based incentives independent of meeting carbon monoxide goals.

Behavioral: Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Patients will enroll in a videogame that is intended to help them quit smoking. They will be given goals for quitting (based on carbon monoxide readings submitted over a secure internet server) and will earn game-based incentives either contingent or noncontingent on meeting those goals.

Interventions

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

Videogame-based smoking cessation intervention

Patients will enroll in a videogame that is intended to help them quit smoking. They will be given goals for quitting (based on carbon monoxide readings submitted over a secure internet server) and will earn game-based incentives either contingent or noncontingent on meeting those goals.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria

* 18 years or older
* smoking 10+ cigarettes per day
* smoking for 2+ years
* currently wishes to quit smoking
* has a computer at home with Internet access
* U.S. citizen
* literate

Exclusion Criteria

* smoking other substances (e.g., marijuana, cigars) \> 2 times per month
* unstable medical or psychiatric condition that might interfere with the program
* living with someone who smokes in the home
* a job that exposes the person to excessive ambient carbon monoxide

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes