Examining Outcome Expectancies and Behavioral Reinforcers Among Young Adult Smokers

NCT04383782 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KDYAS2020
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 159
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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

Keywords

smoking cessation; motivation; outcome expectancies; behavioral reinforcers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Quit attempt

  yes/no, whether or not the participant made a 24-hour (or longer) quit attempt between the date of the main experiment and the date of the 4-week follow-up assessment.

  4-week follow up

• Motivation to quit

  Contemplation ladder score (range 0-10; higher scores indicate more motivation to quit)

  4-week follow up

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Smoking rate

  4-week follow up

• Outcome expectancies

  4-week follow up

• Behavioral reinforcers

  4-week follow up

Study Arms (3)

Expectancy Challenge

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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.

Behavioral: Expectancy Challenge

Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Behavioral: Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation

Neutral Reading

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

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.

Behavioral: Control

Interventions

Expectancy Challenge BEHAVIORAL

Expectancy challenge intervention (see description in study arms).

Expectancy Challenge

Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation BEHAVIORAL

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

Expectancy Challenge + Behavioral Activation

Control BEHAVIORAL

Neutral reading condition (see description in study arms).

Neutral Reading

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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

You may not qualify if:

• N/A

Sponsors & Collaborators

• American University: lead

Study Sites (1)

American University

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20016, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Smoking Cessation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2020
• First Posted: May 12, 2020
• Study Start: May 22, 2020
• Primary Completion: December 7, 2020
• Study Completion: January 4, 2021
• Last Updated: January 20, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-01

Locations

US (1)