From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (KRC, MLS, SMC, CW-C, MJH, ESH, PP, AN, KLC); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (JD); Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (JD); and School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (PSH).
J Addict Med. 2023;17(4):e269-e277. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001157. Epub 2023 Mar 3.
NicoBloc is a viscous fluid applied to the cigarette filter designed to block tar and nicotine. This novel and understudied smoking cessation device presents a nonpharmacological means for smokers to gradually reduce nicotine and tar content while continuing to smoke their preferred brand of cigarette. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of NicoBloc as compared with nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine lozenge).
A community sample of predominately Black smokers (N = 45; 66.7% Black) were randomized to receive NicoBloc or nicotine lozenge. Both groups engaged in 4 weeks of smoking cessation therapy followed by 2 months of independent usage with monthly check-ins to assess medication adherence. The intervention lasted 12 weeks, and the study concluded with a 1-month postintervention follow-up visit (week 16).
NicoBloc was comparable with nicotine lozenge in smoking reduction, feasibility, symptom adverse effects, and reported acceptability at week 16. Participants in the lozenge group endorsed higher treatment satisfaction ratings during the intervention and lower cigarette dependence. Adherence to NicoBloc was superior throughout the study.
NicoBloc was feasible and acceptable to community smokers. NicoBloc presents a unique, nonpharmacological intervention. Future research is needed to examine whether this intervention may be most effective in subpopulations where pharmacological approaches are restricted or in combination with established pharmacological methods such as nicotine replacement therapy.
NicoBloc 是一种涂在香烟过滤嘴上的粘性液体，旨在阻止焦油和尼古丁。这种新颖且研究不足的戒烟装置为吸烟者提供了一种非药物手段，使他们能够在继续吸食自己喜欢的香烟品牌的同时，逐渐降低尼古丁和焦油含量。这项初步研究旨在评估 NicoBloc 与尼古丁替代疗法（尼古丁含片）相比的可行性、可接受性和初步疗效。
本研究纳入了一个主要由黑人吸烟者组成的社区样本（N=45；66.7%为黑人），并将他们随机分配到接受 NicoBloc 或尼古丁含片治疗的组中。两组均接受 4 周的戒烟治疗，然后在独立使用 2 个月的过程中每月进行一次检查，以评估药物依从性。干预持续 12 周，研究在干预结束后 1 个月（第 16 周）进行了 1 次随访。
在第 16 周时，NicoBloc 在减少吸烟量、可行性、症状不良反应和报告的可接受性方面与尼古丁含片相当。在干预期间，接受含片组的参与者对治疗的满意度更高，而尼古丁依赖程度更低。在整个研究过程中，NicoBloc 的依从性都更好。
NicoBloc 对社区吸烟者来说是可行且可接受的。NicoBloc 提供了一种独特的非药物干预措施。未来需要进一步研究，以确定这种干预措施是否在药物治疗受限的亚人群中或与尼古丁替代疗法等已确立的药物方法联合使用时最有效。
