Enhancing Smoking Cessation for African American People Everywhere

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · Jun 9, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying new ways to help Black adults living with HIV stop smoking cigarettes. It compares two different smartphone app programs plus nicotine replacement therapy (like patches or gum) to help people quit smoking, against a group that only receives nicotine replacement therapy. The goal is to see which approach works best for supporting smoking cessation and managing HIV through mobile health tools.

To join the study, participants need to be Black adults living with HIV who smoke at least five cigarettes a day and are motivated to quit within two weeks of joining. They also need to have some symptoms of anxiety or depression and be comfortable using a smartphone app. Participants will be asked to use one of the apps or just nicotine replacement therapy, complete study assessments, and download the app on their phone. The study is currently not recruiting, and people with certain health conditions or language barriers may not be eligible. This trial aims to find better ways to support quitting smoking in this community using technology that fits into daily life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • At least 18 years of age
• • Identify as Black/African American
• • Living with HIV
• • Willing and able to complete study assessments
• • Smoking at least 5 cigarettes per day for at least a year
• • Motivated to quit smoking (≥ 5 on a 10-point scale)
• • Must be ready to quit cigarettes within 14 days of full enrollment
• • Moderate or higher anxiety sensitivity (i.e., ≥ 5 on the Short Scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index \[SSASI\]) OR elevated anxiety (i.e., \> 7 on the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale \[OASIS\]) OR depression (i.e., \> 7 on the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale \[ODSIS\])
• • Must be interested in using a mobile app
• • Must be willing to download a mobile app onto their personal phone
• • Must be willing to use NRT
• • Possess an Android/Apple smartphone that is compatible with the mobile app
• • Demonstrate 7th grade level proficiency in English (\> 4 on the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine-Short Form \[REALM-SF\])
• • Valid proof of identification (photo of valid US ID)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Legal situations which may interfere with study participation
• • Not being fluent in English
• • High blood pressure that is not under control
• • Having experienced a heart attack within the past 2 weeks
• • Pregnant of planning to become pregnant within the next six months
• • Cognitive impairment (a score of \> 8 on the Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test \[6-CIT\])
• • Residing in a location (Urban/Rural) for which the corresponding study cell has been filled