Tobacco Use
Conditions
Keywords
Tobacco Use, Nicotine Dependence
Brief summary
The purpose of this research study is to investigate the effect of a brief computer task (Approach Avoidance Task) on smoking cessation. The investigators will use a novel training protocol that works to target automatic thoughts and tendencies that occur outside of conscious control. Previous research suggests that these automatic tendencies may have a direct effect on certain health behaviors- like continuing to smoke despite having previous quit attempts. The investigators hypothesize that individuals in the AAT training condition will evidence a greater decrease in reaction times to avoid smoking-related stimuli & approach positive stimuli relative to those in the control condition. The investigators also expect that individuals in the AAT condition will exhibit superior outcomes on several quit-related variables as evidenced by an increase in motivation to quit smoking, an increase in number of days abstinent following a self-guided quit attempt, an increase in self-efficacy, and a decrease in urge to smoke compared to those in the SHAM training condition.
Interventions
The Approach Avoidance Task (AAT) used for this experiment is an implicit, computerized paradigm in which participants respond to visually presented pictures on a computer screen displaying either 1) smoking-related images or 2) positive images, by pulling a joystick either towards their body (approach movement) or pushing it away from their body (avoidance movement). By pulling the joystick towards their body, the picture grows in size; by pushing the joystick away, the picture shrinks and then disappears from the screen. Participants are instructed to pull upon seeing an image tilted to the right and to push upon seeing a left-tilt image, while ignoring the image content and responding as quickly and as accurately as possible.
OTHERSHAM Training
Sponsors
Jasper A. Smits
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male and female patients ages 18-65 capable of providing informed consent * Willing and able to provide informed consent, attend all study visits, and comply with the protocol * Daily smoker for at least 6 months * Currently smoke an average of at least 8 cigarettes per day * Report a motivation to quit smoking of at least 5 on a 10-point scale * Interest in making a serious quit attempt within the next month (without professional assistance or nicotine therapy) * Have not decreased their number of cigarettes by more than half in the last six months
Exclusion criteria
* Visual or hand-motoric impairments * Current use of nicotine replacement therapy * Current use of tobacco products other than cigarettes * Insufficient command of the English language
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reaction Time on Approach Avoidance Task | 2 weeks | The time between the start of the trial and the picture disappearing from the screen will be recorded. The investigators will look at the change in response times for each individual. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a greater decrease in reaction time for those in the AAT training group. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Motivation to Quit Smoking as assessed by having participants rate their motivation to quit smoking on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being not motivated at all and 10 being extremely motivated to quit). | 2 weeks | The investigators expect that individuals in the AAT training condition will have a greater motivation to quit smoking relative to those in the SHAM condition. |
| Number of Days Abstinent as assessed by daily cigarette count during a self-guided quit attempt. | 2 weeks | The investigators hypothesize that individuals in the AAT training condition will be more likely to have a greater number of days abstinent following Quit Day relative to those in the SHAM condition. |
| Self Efficacy as assessed by the Relapse Situation Self-Efficacy questionnaire. | 2 weeks | The investigators expect to see a greater increase in self-efficacy for the AAT training group relative to the SHAM training group. |
| Urge to Smoke as assessed by the QSU-brief (Questionnaire of Smoking Urges). | 2 weeks | The investigators hypothesize that individuals in the AAT training condition will evidence a greater decrease in urge to smoke relative to those in the SHAM condition. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJasper A Smits, Ph.D.
University of Texas at Austin
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORScarlett O Baird, B.A.
University of Texas at Austin
Outcome results
None listed