Quitxt Mobile Text Messaging Cessation Research Study
Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess Innovative Smoking Cessation Services for Young Adults in Texas
1 other identifier
interventional
1,200
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The health benefits of smoking cessation by age 30 are much greater than cessation later in life, including gaining 10 years of life, compared with those who continue to smoke. The goal of the proposed study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the bilingual and culturally tailored Quitxt mobile cessation intervention. Quitxt provides interactive messages through texts or chat with visual and video content employing theory- and evidence-based techniques to prompt and sustain cessation. The study will recruit 1,200 Latino young adult smokers aged 18-29 who enroll and agree to make quit attempts, with half randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to receive Quitxt and half to abbreviated text messages with smoking cessation-related content and referral to the Texas Department of State Health Services cessation program Yes Quit (which has diverse formats, but not explicitly tailored for young Latino adults in South Texas). Participants respond to baseline and follow-up assessments at one, three and six months after their enrollment, and those who report cessation will be asked to provide saliva samples to confirm they quit smoking. The sample size will be sufficient to detect expected higher cessation rates in those who are enrolled in Quitxt than those who are enrolled in Texas DSHS Yes Quit. The investigators will publish results in scientific journals, report them at scientific and community meetings, share them on social media, and publicize them widely. This study has the potential to advance public health by evaluating the effectiveness of a scalable, easily disseminated and adaptable intervention to help young adults, especially Latinos, quit smoking and reduce smoking-related cancer and chronic disease morbidity and mortality and their associated healthcare costs.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Feb 2026
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
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
July 14, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
July 24, 2023
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
February 12, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
August 1, 2028
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
August 1, 2028
March 31, 2026
March 1, 2026
2.5 years
July 14, 2023
March 26, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Smoking cessation
Measure of smoking cessation (7-day point prevalence abstinence)self-reported and biochemically verified.
6 months
Secondary Outcomes (1)
Smoking cessation assessment
1 month and 3 months
Study Arms (2)
Quitxt bilingual text messaging and chat
EXPERIMENTALCulturally and linguistically tailored, bilingual text messaging or chat mobile app. Our text messaging or chat intervention will include messaging options in which users can text or message a code when they are craving a cigarette or at risk of relapse and immediately receive text or social media messages to help them avoid smoking. The social media content also will include opportunities for users to repeatedly visit key content pages and receive immediate support when experiencing cravings, stress, bad mood, or when feeling at risk of smoking.
Usual care
OTHERAbbreviated text messaging with smoking cessation-related content and referral to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) cessation program Yes Quit (www.yesquit.org) available to smokers seeking help quitting. The abbreviated text messaging will include general information on smoking harms and benefits of cessation, and baseline data collection and follow-up assessments.
Interventions
Mobile intervention using proven social cognitive, motivational interviewing, and brief intervention methods for promoting behavior change - blends bilingual text and social media messaging for smoking cessation tailored to the language and culture of young adult smokers in our vulnerable region of South Texas.
Abbreviated text messaging with smoking cessation-related content and referral to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) cessation program Yes Quit.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Latinos
- aged 18-29 years;
- smoking at least one cigarette/day ≥3 days/week;
- interested in quitting;
- willing to provide follow-up data;
- are not simultaneously participating in a cessation program;
- own a cell phone or smartphone;
- are able to send and receive text messages and access the Internet;
- reside in the study area; and
- able to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
You may not qualify if:
- are not interested in quitting;
- are unable to provide consent due to a mental, emotional, or physical handicap that keep them from understanding the consent information;
- do not own a cell phone with text and Internet capabilities;
- are unable to respond to text messages and questions or unable to view the study mobile webpages/YouTube videos (i.e., if they are blind, deaf); or
- are planning to move from the study area within the study time span.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Patricia Chalela, DrPH
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
July 14, 2023
First Posted
July 24, 2023
Study Start
February 12, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2028
Study Completion (Estimated)
August 1, 2028
Last Updated
March 31, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-03
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
- Time Frame
- At study completion when summary data are published or otherwise made available
- Access Criteria
- Institute for Health Promotion Research home website; its institutional e-newsletters; and its Salud America! (SA!) national network.
Annual presentation at a national conference is expected. Community Presentations/Forums for young adult organizations and groups, public health and clinical practitioners, and the community at large. Educational presentations and infographics about the importance of quitting smoking aimed at colleges, technical schools, community stakeholders, at health fairs or at in-person and/or virtual educational sessions organized with the study team's community partners. Submission to scientific journals Communications, American Journal of Health Promotion, Tobacco Control, and other scientific periodicals to disseminate findings including Quitxt text messaging and chat development and implementation and report experimental results based on follow-up assessments. Via the Institute for Health Promotion Research home website; its institutional e-newsletters; and its Salud America! (SA!) national network.