The Role of Flavor in the Substitutability of E-cigarettes for Combustible Cigarettes Among Persistent Smokers

Launched by ABRAMSON CANCER CENTER AT PENN MEDICINE · Feb 8, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring the impact of different flavors in e-cigarettes on helping smokers switch from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes. The study involves 210 smokers who have been smoking at least five cigarettes a day for over a year. Participants will try fruit-flavored, tobacco-flavored, or menthol-flavored e-cigarettes for six weeks. The aim is to see how these flavors affect their desire to switch and continue using e-cigarettes instead of smoking traditional cigarettes.

To join the study, participants must be at least 21 years old, speak English, and have a history of smoking and trying to quit multiple times. They should also be willing to use the assigned e-cigarette flavors for the duration of the study. Throughout the trial, participants will receive support and guidance, and their smoking habits will be monitored. It’s important for potential participants to know that those currently using other forms of nicotine or enrolled in smoking cessation programs cannot take part.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Able to communicate fluently in English (i.e. speaking, writing, and reading)
• • 2. Male and female smokers who are \> 21 years of age and self-report smoking at least 5 cigarettes (menthol and/or non-menthol) per day for at least the last 12 months
• • 3. 5 or more failed quit attempts and the use of smoking cessation medication on at least one prior attempt.
• • 4. Ever use of an e-cigarette
• • 5. Have a carbon monoxide (CO) greater than 10 ppm
• • 6. Not using any forms of nicotine regularly other than cigarettes
• • 7. Be willing to switch to e-cigarettes for 6 weeks and use the assigned flavors
• • 8. Plan to live in the area for the duration of the study
• • 9. Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the combined consent and HIPAA form.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Smoking Behavior Regular use of nicotine-containing products other than cigarettes (e.g., chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, cigars, e-cigs, etc.). Regular e-cigarette use is defined as greater than 5 days/past 30 days
• • 1. Participants agreeing to abstain from using nicotine-containing products other than cigarettes for the duration of the study will be considered eligible.
• • 2. Current enrollment or plans to enroll in a smoking cessation program over the duration of the study.
• • 3. Current use of smoking cessation medication
• • 4. Provide a CO breath test reading less than 10 ppm at Intake.
• • Alcohol and Drug
• • 1. History of substance abuse (other than nicotine dependence) in the past 12 months.
• • 2. Current alcohol consumption that exceeds 20 standard drinks/week.
• • 3. Current use of recreational drugs (other than nicotine and cannabis)
• • 4. Breath alcohol reading (BrAC) greater than .000 at Intake.
• • Medical
• • 1. Women, including all individuals assigned as "female" at birth, who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy over the duration of the study period.
• • 2. Serious or unstable disease within the past year (e.g. cancer, heart disease). Applicable conditions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Principal Investigator.
• • 3. Allergies to either propylene glycol or flavor additives
• • Psychiatric
• • 1. Lifetime history of schizophrenia or psychosis.
• • General Exclusion
• • 1. Past, current, anticipated, or pending enrollment in another research program over the study period that could potentially impact subject safety, study data, and/or the study design as determined by the Principal Investigator.
• • 2. Any medical condition, illness, disorder, adverse event (AE), or concomitant medication that could compromise participant safety or significantly impact study performance as determined by the Principal Investigator. Subjects may be deemed ineligible for any of the aforementioned reasons at any point throughout the study, as well as during the initial telephone screen.
• • 3. Significant non-compliance with protocol and/or study design as determined by the Principal Investigator and/o. Subjects may be deemed ineligible at any point throughout the study.