Trial Outcomes & Findings for The Effect of Sweet Flavoring on the Rewarding and Reinforcing Value of Cigarillo Use Among Young Adults (NCT NCT05092919)

NCT ID: NCT05092919

Last Updated: 2024-05-17

Results Overview

Subjective rewarding value of cigarillo flavoring will be measured with the Cigarette Evaluation Scale (CES) adapted for cigarillo use. The CES is an 11 item Likert-format (1=not at all to 7=extremely) self-report instrument with established validity and reliability (α \> .80). The investigators will focus on the sum of the two-item satisfaction subscale ("Was it satisfying?" and "Did it taste good?") to calculate the subjective rewarding value. The minimum possible score is 2 and the maximum is 14. Higher scores denote greater subjective rewarding value. Primary Outcome measured at visit 1.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Target enrollment

95 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Laboratory visit 1 (Day 1, 1.5 hours)

Results posted on

2024-05-17

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Flavor
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
Overall Study
STARTED
95
Overall Study
COMPLETED
86
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
9

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Flavor
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
7
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
2

Baseline Characteristics

The Effect of Sweet Flavoring on the Rewarding and Reinforcing Value of Cigarillo Use Among Young Adults

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Flavor
n=86 Participants
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
Age, Continuous
22.23 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.57 • n=93 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
23 Participants
n=93 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
63 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White/Caucasian
33 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black/African American
29 Participants
n=93 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
24 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarillo Use
Infrequent
58 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarillo Use
Frequent
28 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarillo Flavor Preference
Non-flavored
23 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarillo Flavor Preference
Flavored
63 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarette Use
Never
21 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarette Use
Infrequent
43 Participants
n=93 Participants
Cigarette Use
Frequent
22 Participants
n=93 Participants
Blunt Use
Never
9 Participants
n=93 Participants
Blunt Use
Infrequent
41 Participants
n=93 Participants
Blunt Use
Frequent
36 Participants
n=93 Participants
Flavored Risk Perceptions
1.41 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.61 • n=93 Participants
Cigarillo Dependence
1.71 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.26 • n=93 Participants
Advertising Exposure
3.24 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.21 • n=93 Participants
Receives Marketing Promotions
12 Participants
n=93 Participants
E-cigarette Use
Never
19 Participants
n=93 Participants
E-cigarette Use
Infrequent
51 Participants
n=93 Participants
E-cigarette Use
Frequent
16 Participants
n=93 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Laboratory visit 1 (Day 1, 1.5 hours)

Subjective rewarding value of cigarillo flavoring will be measured with the Cigarette Evaluation Scale (CES) adapted for cigarillo use. The CES is an 11 item Likert-format (1=not at all to 7=extremely) self-report instrument with established validity and reliability (α \> .80). The investigators will focus on the sum of the two-item satisfaction subscale ("Was it satisfying?" and "Did it taste good?") to calculate the subjective rewarding value. The minimum possible score is 2 and the maximum is 14. Higher scores denote greater subjective rewarding value. Primary Outcome measured at visit 1.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Flavor
n=86 Participants
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
Subjective Rewarding Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Citrus "Jazz"
4.03 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.47
Subjective Rewarding Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Cream
3.63 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.42
Subjective Rewarding Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Non-flavored
3.30 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.61

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Laboratory visit 2 (Day 2, 2 hours)

Relative reinforcing value of cigarillo flavoring will be measured with a validated choice paradigm, evaluating the preference for sweet flavored (the cigarillo with the highest rewarding value measured in visit 1) relative to non-flavored cigarillos. The reinforcement schedule in the non-flavored cigarillo remained constant at a fixed ratio FR-25, while the reinforcement schedule for the sweet-flavored cigarillo increased with a progressive ratio schedule of PR-25x over 10 trials. RRVF will be defined by the breakpoint (highest trial completed across 10 trials to earn puffs for sweet flavored versus non-flavored cigarillos). Higher breakpoints indicate a greater relative reinforcing value. Primary Outcome measured at visit 2.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Flavor
n=86 Participants
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
Relative Reinforcing Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Sweet flavored
6.34 trials
Interval 5.98 to 6.7
Relative Reinforcing Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Non-flavored
3.66 trials
Interval 3.3 to 4.02

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Laboratory visit 3 (Day 3, 2.5 hours)

Absolute reinforcing value of cigarillo flavoring is operationalized as the number of sweet flavored versus non-flavored cigarillo puffs consumed during the ad libitum smoking session. A research assistant will videotape, monitor, and count the number of cigarillo puffs taken during the 90-minute period. The primary comparison is the amount of consumption (puffs) of the sweet flavored (determined at visit 1) versus non-flavored cigarillo. A greater number of puffs indicates a higher absolute reinforcing value. Primary Outcome measured at visit 3.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Flavor
n=86 Participants
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
Absolute Reinforcing Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Sweet flavored
40.88 puffs
Interval 37.74 to 44.03
Absolute Reinforcing Value of Cigarillo Flavoring
Non-flavored
23.12 puffs
Interval 20.25 to 25.98

Adverse Events

Flavor

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 1 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Flavor
n=86 participants at risk
Either a sweet-flavored or a non-flavored cigarillo Flavor: Sweet flavored vs. non-flavored cigarillos.
General disorders
Participant vomited in smoking lab sink after taking cigarillo puffs during Lab visit 2.
1.2%
1/86 • Number of events 1 • 3 weeks
Serious Adverse Events were defined as any severe or serious medical event definitely related to study participation. Adverse Events were defined as any unanticipated medical event definitely related to study participation.

Additional Information

Janet Audrain-McGovern, Ph.D. Director, Addictions, Department of Psychiatry

Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Phone: (215) 746-7145

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place