NCT05815199

Brief Summary

In this open-label, randomized controlled trial study, participants who smoke combustible cigarettes (CC) and are diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) will be randomized in two arms to receive harm-reduction counseling and Ecological Momentary Intervention text messaging (EMI) along with either e-cigarettes (EC) or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as patch and lozenges to compare the efficacy in CC smoking reduction.

Trial Health

57
Monitor

Trial Health Score

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

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
60

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2023

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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

April 4, 2023

Completed
14 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 18, 2023

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 13, 2023

Completed
2.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2026

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

October 10, 2025

Status Verified

October 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2.3 years

First QC Date

April 4, 2023

Last Update Submit

October 8, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

E-cigarettesHarm reductionCigarette smokingSerious mental illness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Percentage of Participants who Achieve a 100% Reduction in Cigarettes Per Day (CPD) by Week 4

    Measured via self-report (daily diary about smoking behavior) and verified by exhaled carbon-monoxide (eCO) level (\< 6 ppm).

    Up to Week 4

  • Percentage of Participants who Achieve a 100% Reduction in Cigarettes Per Day (CPD) by Week 8

    Measured via self-report (daily diary about smoking behavior) and verified by exhaled carbon-monoxide (eCO) level (\< 6 ppm).

    Up to Week 8

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Percentage of Participants who Achieve a 100% Reduction in Cigarettes Per Day (CPD) by Week 12

    Up to Week 12

  • Self-Reported Percent Change in CPD from Baseline to Week 8

    Baseline, Week 8

  • Self-Reported Percent Change in CPD from Baseline to Week 12

    Baseline, Week 12

  • Change in American Thoracic Questionnaire Score from Baseline to Week 12

    Baseline, Week 12

  • Change in Symptom Check Questionnaire Score from Baseline to Week 12

    Baseline, Week 12

Study Arms (2)

E-cigarettes (EC)

EXPERIMENTAL

Adult cigarette smokers with a SMI diagnosis randomized to the EC arm will receive NRT including nicotine patches and lozenges. Participants will also receive telehealth motivational counseling during the intervention period of 8 weeks.

Other: E-cigarette (EC)Behavioral: Harm-Reduction CounselingBehavioral: Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) Text Messaging

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Adult cigarette smokers with a SMI diagnosis randomized to the NRT arm will receive NRT including nicotine patches and lozenges gum. Participants will also receive telehealth motivational counseling during the intervention period of 8 weeks.

Other: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)Behavioral: Harm-Reduction CounselingBehavioral: Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) Text Messaging

Interventions

Fixed dose. Participants are to use the EC as replacement for smoking combustible cigarettes. Participants will vape the EC.

Also known as: NJOY Ace or NJOY Daily Electronic Cigarette
E-cigarettes (EC)

Includes nicotine patches and lozenges. NRT use recommendations will follow the guidelines of the product, e.g. one patch per day.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

At baseline, after randomization, participants will receive their first telehealth session (20\~25 minutes) from a counselor trained in motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and smoking cessation. Up to five additional sessions will be delivered, 15\~20 minutes each.

E-cigarettes (EC)Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

EMI can be defined as delivering tailored interventions via electronic messages (i.e., regular text messages) that include personalized feedback based on real-time assessment responses and other contextual factors. EMI will take place throughout the intervention period.

E-cigarettes (EC)Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)

Eligibility Criteria

Age21 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Currently smokes 5 or more CPD
  • Willingness and ability to provide informed consent
  • Age of at least 21 years
  • Has SMI diagnosis (such as Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorders, Bipolar disorder, Depressive disorders, Trauma and stressor related disorders etc.) as determined using the MINI tool
  • Interested in reducing CC smoking but not necessarily trying to quit
  • Own a mobile phone or have regular access to a mobile phone
  • Able to provide an additional contact to improve follow-up rates

You may not qualify if:

  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Used tobacco other than CC in the past 2 weeks (e.g., EC, cigarillo)
  • Currently engaged in an attempt to quit CC
  • Change in dose of their psychotropic medication(s) in the last 30 days
  • Meeting DSM-V criteria for current alcohol or substance use disorder except for nicotine use disorder and active mild alcohol or substance use disorders.
  • Past month suicidal ideation/suicide attempt and/or psychiatric hospitalization in the last 30 days

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

NYU Langone Health

New York, New York, 10016, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cigarette SmokingVapingHarm Reduction

Interventions

Electronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsNicotine Replacement Therapyelastin microfibril interface located protein

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Tobacco SmokingSmokingBehaviorTobacco Use

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Smoking DevicesManufactured MaterialsTechnology, Industry, and AgricultureDrug TherapyTherapeutics

Study Officials

  • Omar El-Shahawy

    NYU Langone Health

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 4, 2023

First Posted

April 18, 2023

Study Start

November 13, 2023

Primary Completion

March 1, 2026

Study Completion

March 1, 2026

Last Updated

October 10, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

The de-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript will be shared upon reasonable request or for individual participant data meta-analysis beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research provided the investigator who proposes to use the data or researcher who provides a methodologically sound proposal executes a data use agreement with NYU Langone Health. Requests may be directed to: Omar.ElShahawy@nyulangone.org. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

Time Frame
Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Access Criteria
The investigator who proposed to use the data or researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal will be granted access upon reasonable request or for individual participant data meta-analysis. Requests should be directed to Omar.ElShahawy@nyulangone.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

Locations