Examining Outcome Expectancies and Behavioral Reinforcers Among Young Adult Smokers

NCT ID: NCT04383782

Last Updated: 2021-01-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 159 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-05-22
• Study Completion Date: 2021-01-04

Brief Summary

Chronic cigarette smoking habits often begin in adolescence or early adulthood. 98% of cigarette smokers try their first cigarette before the age of 26. Thus, young adult smokers represent an important target for early smoking cessation intervention. This study tests two interventions designed to increase motivation to quit and decrease smoking behavior. These interventions include: an expectancy challenge approach, which aims to increase negative beliefs about the consequences of smoking; and a behavioral economics approach, which encourages participants to substitute non-smoking behaviors that may still provide reinforcement similar to reinforcement derived from smoking a cigarette.

Conditions

Smoking Cessation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Expectancy Challenge

The expectancy challenge intervention will involve two brief videotaped testimonials in which former smokers discuss their experiences with smoking-related health conditions. Participants will be encouraged to reflect back on the content of each video once per week leading up to the follow-up assessment.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Expectancy Challenge

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Expectancy challenge intervention (see description in study arms).

Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation

In addition to the expectancy challenge intervention (see Expectancy Challenge condition), participants in the Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation group will also receive a novel behavioral activation intervention. Participants will be presented with brief psychoeducation about behavioral activation, several examples of possible functions of cigarette smoking, and several suggestions of behavioral strategies. All participants will receive the same information, but they will be encouraged to apply the information to their personal circumstances and to consider additional examples of rewarding activities they may engage in over the next four weeks. Participants will also be encouraged to engage in at least one behavioral activation activity each week leading up to the follow-up assessment.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Expectancy challenge + behavioral activation interventions (see description in study arms)

Neutral Reading

The control group will receive neutral reading materials related to the components and structure of a cigarette. The content will be strictly curated so as to avoid inadvertently encouraging or discouraging smoking among participants.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Control

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Neutral reading condition (see description in study arms).

Interventions

Expectancy Challenge

Expectancy challenge intervention (see description in study arms).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation

Expectancy challenge + behavioral activation interventions (see description in study arms)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Control

Neutral reading condition (see description in study arms).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18-35 years old
• English fluency
• Living in the United States
• Smoked at least 1 cigarette per week during the past month
• Willing to be contacted for 1-month follow up assessment

Exclusion Criteria

• N/A

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

American University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Amanda Kaufmann

Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

American University

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

KDYAS2020

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id