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Unconventional Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation

Bad is Stronger Than Good: Unconventional Financial Incentives for Smoking Cessation

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03608852
Enrollment
36
Registered
2018-08-01
Start date
2018-08-01
Completion date
2019-08-01
Last updated
2018-08-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Smoking Cessation

Brief summary

The proposed study is a randomized study of actively smoking veterans cared for at the Miami VA Medical Center. Subjects are randomized into 2 groups and will all receive a regimen of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) standardized to their smoking habit. Subjects are followed biweekly for smoking cessation by using biochemical tests (exCO and COHb) to determine smoking abstinence. The first group called the Banked-Money Group will have $50 placed in a 'bank account' for every clinic visit where their tests reveal abstinence from smoking. As a modified commitment contract, the Banked-Money Group can only withdraw the accrued money at the end of the trial if they complete the trial by quitting smoking for the entire 6 months. The second group called the Reward Group will directly receive $50 for every clinic visit where their tests reveal abstinence from smoking.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Miami VA Healthcare System
Lead SponsorFED

Study design

Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Enrollment criteria include subjects 18 years of age or older, currently smoking at least a half a pack of cigarettes a day, who have at least a ten-pack year smoking history, are interested in quitting smoking, agree to submit to exhaled breath and ABG analysis and have reliable means of visiting the clinic every two weeks. Subjects must be able to tolerate NRT including patches and lozenges and meet with the VA smoking cessation counselor.

Exclusion criteria

Subjects will not be enrolled if they are currently taking varenicline as the VA disallows concurrent use of varenicline and NRT.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Smoking cessation rate1 yearThe primary outcome for this study is to compare smoking cessation rates between smokers who received one of two financial incentive strategies in addition to standard of care NRT and counseling.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Household income1 yearWe will determine whether household income affect quit rates.
Smoking habits1 yearWe will determine whether smoking habits affect quit rates.
Nicotine dependence1 yearWe will determine whether nicotine dependence affect quit rates.
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms1 yearWe will determine whether nicotine withdrawal symptoms affect quit rates.
Anxiety / Depression1 yearWe will determine whether anxiety and / or depression affect quit rates.

Contacts

Primary ContactIsabel A Vital, MD
isabel.vital@va.gov305-575-7000
Backup ContactGisel Urdaneta, MD
gisel.urdanetacestari@va.gov305-575-7000

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026