NCT05994209

Brief Summary

Use of vaping products (e.g., electronic nicotine delivery systems, e-cigarettes) has been increasing rapidly, particularly among teens and young adults. With limited information on the long-term effects of vaping products, health information about vaping has been somewhat unclear in regards to associated health risks. Teens and young adults may be reluctant to disclose their use of vaping products to parents or health providers and instead turn to social media to share and seek out information regarding vaping risks and cessation supports. Thus, our current proposal outlines the use of social media to identify teens and young adults socially networking about vaping, the use of an online chatbot screen to evaluate individual cessation support needs, and the use of a digital intervention system to support vaping cessation. The mobile intervention used in this study is based on a widely-used evidence-based mobile intervention for combustible smoking (i.e., quitSTART) and has been adapted for vaping and young adults to include an in-app chatbot to guide users to tailored content and to motivate and encourage their cessation efforts. We aim to integrate our social media recruitment and online screening approach to connect individuals with this mobile app intervention, and will conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate user engagement with and preliminary efficacy of the digital intervention on reducing vaping behaviors among teens and young adults.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
189

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_1

Timeline
10mo left

Started Jun 2025

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

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress53%
Jun 2025Mar 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 8, 2023

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 16, 2023

Completed
1.8 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 4, 2025

Completed
1.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2026

Expected
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2027

Last Updated

April 13, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

1.6 years

First QC Date

August 8, 2023

Last Update Submit

April 7, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

vapingmobile app interventionyouthyoung adultschatbotnicotinesocial media

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Vaping cessation

    Vaping cessation as assessed by 7 day self-reported vaping abstinence at follow-up. Timeline follow back procedures will be used to establish abstinence or if participants lapsed (their first instance of vaping post quit) or relapsed (vaped on 7 consecutive days) at each follow up time point.

    Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Nicotine dependence

    Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months

  • Risk perception related to vaping

    Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months

  • Intervention engagement

    Baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months

Study Arms (3)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Nationwide resource referral and intervention waitlist

Experimental Group A: Mobile App Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

quitSTART Mobile Application Adapted for Vaping Cessation Among Young Adults

Device: quitSTART Mobile Application

Experimental Group B: Mobile App Intervention with Embedded Chatbot Feature

EXPERIMENTAL

quitSTART Mobile Application Adapted for Vaping Cessation Among Young Adults Including Embedded Chatbot Feature

Device: quitSTART Mobile ApplicationBehavioral: Chatbot Feature in quitSTART Mobile Application

Interventions

Mobile application with educational content, motivational messages, self-monitoring, and tips for managing cravings to support vaping cessation among young adults.

Experimental Group A: Mobile App InterventionExperimental Group B: Mobile App Intervention with Embedded Chatbot Feature

In-App chatbot feature emedded into quitSTART mobile application to motivate vaping cessation and support app navigation.

Experimental Group B: Mobile App Intervention with Embedded Chatbot Feature

Eligibility Criteria

Age15 Years - 25 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • US Resident
  • English Speaking
  • Have daily access to a smartphone
  • Current vaping product user (P30D)
  • Identified as socially networking about a desire to quit vaping and/or experiencing negative health outcomes due to vaping
  • Vaping product user only (i.e., not using vaping as a means to support combustible smoking cessation)

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

VapingTobacco Use Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

SmokingBehaviorSubstance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced DisordersMental Disorders

Central Study Contacts

Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD

CONTACT

Erin Kasson, MSW

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 1
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 8, 2023

First Posted

August 16, 2023

Study Start

June 4, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2027

Last Updated

April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations