Tobacco Smoking, Health Behavior
Conditions
Keywords
Cancer, Digital outreach, Multimethod randomized trial, Factorial Design, Message Frames, Tobacco use, Smoker enrollment rates
Brief summary
The objective of this study was to conduct a pilot factorial randomized trial to identify the message frames that are most effective in promoting participation in a tobacco treatment trial for current smokers recently diagnosed with cancer. To do so, we used a multimethod approach to evaluate 3 different message frames across evaluation, effectiveness, and outcome measures. We combine findings from a message design experiment with textual analytic software to provide a holistic understanding of how message frames may or may not differentially affect tobacco treatment trial participation within the context of a cancer diagnosis.
Detailed description
Background: A cancer diagnosis can catalyze motivation to quit smoking. Tobacco treatment trials offer cessation resources but have low accrual rates. Digital outreach may improve accrual, but knowledge of how best to recruit smokers with recent diagnoses is limited. Objective: This study aims to identify the message frames that were most effective in promoting intent to talk to a physician about participating in a tobacco treatment trial for smokers recently diagnosed with cancer. Methods: From February to April 2019, current smokers diagnosed within the past 24 months were recruited from a national web-based panel for a multimethod pilot randomized trial (N=99). Participants were randomized to a 2×3 plus control factorial design that tested 3 unique message frames: proximal versus distal threats of smoking, costs of continued smoking versus benefits of quitting, and gains of participating versus losses of not participating in a tobacco treatment trial.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALProximal
The first factor tested framing of the near, proximal threat of continued smoking.
BEHAVIORALDistal
The first factor tested framing of the long-term, distal threat of continued smoking.
BEHAVIORALCost
Cost framework measures the response efficacy to quitting smoking by displaying costs of continued smoking.
BEHAVIORALBenefit
Benefit framework measures the response efficacy to quitting smoking by displaying benefits of quitting.
BEHAVIORALLoss
The third factor tested framing of the response efficacy of participating in a cessation study by utilizing loss of not participating in a smoking cessation.
BEHAVIORALGain
The third factor tested framing of the response efficacy of participating in a cessation study by utilizing gain of participating in a smoking cessation.
BEHAVIORALControl
Does not include any of the three message factors.
Sponsors
Tufts University
Massachusetts General Hospital
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
University of Oklahoma
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Speak and understand English * A recent cancer diagnosis (within the past 24 months) * 18 years or older * Report any cigarette use within the past 30 days
Exclusion criteria
* Do not speak or understand English * Have not been diagnosed with cancer within the past 24 months * Below the age of 18 * Does not report any cigarette use within the past 30 days
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in intent to talk to a physician about participating in a smoking cessation study between factors. | Within 30 minutes | The main effect within each message factor level was examined using ANOVA and compared with the control condition. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Predictors of intent to talk to a physician about participating in a smoking cessation study. | Within 30 minutes | Other message evaluation and effectiveness measures were collected and explored in a multivariable model predicting intent to talk to a physician. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed