Leveraging Community Pharmacists to Optimize Smoking Cessation Services for Rural Smokers in Appalachia

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · Dec 13, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a program called QuitAid, which is designed to help people in rural Appalachia quit smoking. The trial aims to find out if QuitAid, used alone or with other smoking cessation methods, can effectively support smokers in their journey to quit. Participants will receive at least 4 weeks of nicotine patches to help reduce cravings. Some will also get additional support options, like text messages for encouragement, phone sessions with quit coaches, or extended nicotine replacement therapy, to see which combination works best.

To join this study, you need to be a rural smoker aged 18 or older, who has been smoking at least 5 cigarettes a day for the past 6 months. You should be willing to set a quit date within the next month and have a cell phone for communication. The study is open to both men and women, with no restrictions based on race or age. If you participate, you can expect support from your pharmacist and various resources to help you quit smoking effectively while being closely monitored for your progress.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Study participants will be rural cigarette smokers from Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina who visit one of the participating study pharmacies. Pharmacies will be located in rural geographic areas of the Central and South Central subregions of Appalachia that include Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina, as defined by the USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCC) 4-9, Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes 4-10, or Frontier and Remote (FAR) areas level 4. No exclusionary criteria are based on race, gender, or age.
• Inclusion Criteria include:
• • must be 18 years of age and older
• • must be able to read, speak, and understand English
• • must report smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day for the past 6 months (regardless of non-cigarette tobacco product use)
• • must be willing to set a quit date within the next 30 days
• • must own a cell phone
• • must be willing and able to use NRT in the form of patch or lozenge
• • Not be pregnant or planning to be pregnant in the next 6 months.
• Exclusion Criteria include:
• • are pregnant women (self-reported), breastfeeding, planning to become pregnant during the next 6 months
• • have a medical contraindication to NRT (e.g., past 30 days, heart attack or stroke; past 6 months, serious or worsening angina, very rapid or irregular heartbeat requiring medication)

Trial Officials