NCT05715164

Brief Summary

Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable low- and middle-income countries with 29 million adult active tobacco users. Smoking cessation services are lacking as the tobacco control initiatives have largely failed to address the smoking endemic. Over the last five years, Pakistan has witnessed the use of innovative tobacco harm reduction such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and non-nicotine replacement therapies (non-NRTs). However, their use remains limited. THR products are imported legally as consumer goods and are taxable. The lack of sufficient data for THR and its application is a challenge in gauging their effectiveness in assisting smokers to quit combustible smoking. Evidence-based studies on e-cigarettes and other nicotine products are required to gauge the effectiveness of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches as smoking cessation aids. Keeping in view the study objectives, a sample size of 600 participants will be sufficient to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches for smoking cessation in Pakistan. Of these, 200 participants each will receive e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches along with basic care counseling, while the remaining 200 participants will only receive basic care counseling for 48 weeks. The association of participants' characteristics with smoking and health status will be based on bivariate and multivariate analysis. The simple t-test and variance analysis will assess the differences in intervention indicators between the control and treatment groups. For the inferential analysis, the average treatment impact of the treatments will find using quasi-experimental techniques such as difference in difference (DID) or Propensity Score Matching (PMS). This study will be evaluated participants at baseline, after their self-decided "quit date,". The follow-up will be a survey every 12 weeks. Results may inform the public, decision-makers, and researchers about the use of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches helping smokers to quit smoking or switch to less harmful alternatives in the short- and medium-term periods.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
600

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for early_phase_1

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2023

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 9, 2023

Completed
28 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 6, 2023

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2023

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2024

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 1, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

February 6, 2023

Status Verified

February 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

4 months

First QC Date

January 9, 2023

Last Update Submit

February 3, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

E-cigarettesNicotine Replacement TherapySmoking CessationTobacco ControlTobacco Harm Reduction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Number of participants reported adverse events of e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches

    The primary outcome will be a long-term change in health status. The best proxy indication for demonstrating a change in tobacco smoking, which is adequate to result in a clinically relevant long-term health benefit, is unknown. In the absence of accurate health indicators, we will use the change in smoking rate from baseline and smoking cessation as primary outcomes.

    60 Weeks

  • Change in the number of combustible cigarettes per day

    This study will evaluate the impact of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches on cigarettes per day (CPD) and smoking cessation (7 Day Point Abstinence) at weeks 24 and 48.

    60 Weeks

  • Point-prevalence abstinence

    Self-reported point-prevalence abstinence in the previous week with biochemical validation will be used exhaled carbon monoxide less than 10 parts per million (PPM).

    60 Weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • 7-day point-prevalence abstinence and harm reduction

    60 Weeks

Study Arms (3)

E-cigarettes device plus liquid

EXPERIMENTAL

The 200 participants will receive e-cigarettes along with basic care counseling for 48 weeks.

Device: E-cigarettes device plus liquid

Nicotine Pouches

EXPERIMENTAL

The 200 participants will receive nicotine pouches along with basic care counseling for 48 weeks.

Drug: Nicotine Pouches

Basic care counseling about smoking cessation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The 200 participants will receive basic care counseling for 48 weeks.

Other: Basic care counseling about smoking cessation

Interventions

The four basic care counseling sessions will be held over the course of 48 weeks with the supply of e-cigarettes and liquid. Every 12 weeks, a standard care counseling session will be offered, and it will be followed by a study visit to track any alterations in the user's physical or mental health as well as any side effects from using e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes device plus liquid

The four basic care counseling sessions will be held over the course of 48 weeks with a supply of nicotine pouches. Every 12 weeks, a standard care counseling session will be offered, and it will be followed by a study visit to track any alterations in the user's physical or mental health as well as any side effects from using nicotine pouches.

Nicotine Pouches

The four basic care counseling sessions will be held over the course of 48 weeks. Every 12 weeks, a standard care counseling session will be offered, and it will be followed by a study visit to track any alterations in the user's physical or mental health.

Basic care counseling about smoking cessation

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Participants who are at least eighteen years old.
  • More than 10 combustible cigarettes smoke a day at the time of study enrollment.
  • Smoked cigarettes for at least a year.
  • Participants are willing to stop combustible smoking.
  • Participants who can sign a written consent form.
  • There can only be one applicant per household.
  • Own a phone that supports text massaging.

You may not qualify if:

  • Women who are pregnant.
  • Childbearing mothers.
  • Currently using other nicotine- and non-nicotine-based cessation therapies.
  • Expectant ladies who intend to become pregnant during the trial's participation term.
  • Experienced chest pain, or another cardiovascular event or procedure (e.g., heart attack, stroke, insertion of stent, bypass surgery).

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Rawalpindi and Islamabad Centre

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, 46000, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Hameed A, Malik D. Clinical study protocol on electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches for smoking cessation in Pakistan: a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2024 Jan 2;25(1):9. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07876-y.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

VapingSmoking Cessation

Interventions

Fluid Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

SmokingBehaviorHealth Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Drug TherapyTherapeutics

Central Study Contacts

Abdul Hameed, PhD

CONTACT

Daud Malik, MA

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
early phase 1
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: The baseline survey will help to evaluate the smoking status, smoking behavior, socio-demographic characteristics, health status, etc. The three-arm study design would randomize 600 participants into three groups. Of the 600 participants, 200 each will receive e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and basic care counseling respectively. Four basic care counseling sessions will be held over the course of 48 weeks. Every 12 weeks, a standard care counseling session will be offered, followed by a study visit to track any alterations in the user's physical or mental health as well as any side effects from using nicotine pouches or e-cigarettes. All participants will complete a follow-up survey at 60 weeks. The provision of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches will be stopped after the first 48 weeks. The remaining 12 weeks will be without the provision of any intervention and the participants must buy these items on their own.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Research Lead

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 9, 2023

First Posted

February 6, 2023

Study Start

December 1, 2023

Primary Completion

April 1, 2024

Study Completion

April 1, 2025

Last Updated

February 6, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-02

Locations