Randomized controlled trial testing a video-text tobacco cessation intervention among economically disadvantaged African American adults.

OBJECTIVE

This pilot study tested the acceptability and short-term outcomes of a culturally specific mobile health (mHealth) intervention () in a sample of economically disadvantaged African American adults. We hypothesized that would demonstrate greater acceptability, biochemically verified abstinence, and promote nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use compared with a standard text-messaging program.

METHOD

In a 2-arm pilot randomized trial, adults who sought to quit smoking ( = 119) received either or the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) SmokefreeTXT, both combined with a brief behavioral counseling session plus 2 weeks of NRT. Outcomes included acceptability (intervention evaluation and use), NRT utilization, 24-hr quit attempts, self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence (ppa), and biochemically verified smoking abstinence at the 6-week follow-up.

RESULTS

Participants were 52% female/48% male, mostly single (60%), completed ≥ 12 years of education (83%), middle-aged, and 63% reported a household income < $10K/year. Participants smoked 11 ( = 8.2) cigarettes/day for 25 ( = 16) years, and reported low nicotine dependence. There were no differences in intervention evaluations or use (s > .05), yet led to significantly greater NRT utilization at follow-up ( < .05). There was no difference in quit attempts between conditions or 7-day ppa ( > .05). However, resulted in significantly greater carbon monoxide confirmed ppa (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.55; 95% CI [1.32, 9.54]) at the 6-week follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

A culturally specific mHealth intervention demonstrated positive effects on NRT use and short-term abstinence. Additional research in a larger sample and with long-term follow-up is warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).