A pilot feasibility study of a behavioral intervention for nicotine vaping cessation among young adults delivered via telehealth. (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Palmer, Amanda M.; Tomko, Rachel L.; Squeglia, Lindsay M.; Gray, Kevin M.; Carpenter, Matthew J.; Smith, Tracy T.; Dahne, Jennifer; Toll, Benjamin A.; McClure, Erin A.
• Is Part Of: Drug and alcohol dependence. Volume 232(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: Vaping -- Electronic cigarettes -- Youth -- Treatment -- Telehealth -- Contingency management; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109311
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0376-8716

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Nicotine vaping among youth has increased, warranting concern from tobacco control proponents. Many youth who vape indicate interest in quitting; however, few empirically supported vaping cessation interventions exist. This pilot feasibility study adapted an established behavioral intervention, contingency management (CM), delivered via telehealth to promote vaping cessation among young adults. Methods: Participants (N = 27; ages 17–21) vaping nicotine regularly were recruited via social media and digital advertisements from across the US (June 2020–January 2021). Participants were randomized at approximately 4:1 to CM or Monitoring control (22:5). CM was delivered through DynamiCare Health's smartphone app for 4 weeks, in which financial incentives were delivered contingent on abstinent cotinine samples after the quit day until the end of treatment (EOT; Days 7–28; 10 expected submissions). Control participants earned incentives for submitting cotinine, regardless of abstinence. Feasibility, acceptability, and abstinence was collected throughout treatment, at EOT, and at 1-month follow-up. Results: The majority of enrolled participants completed treatment (Monitoring: 5/5; CM: 20/22), and intervention components were rated favorably overall (> 80%). CM participants submitted 112/220 (55%) abstinent cotinine samples throughout the quit attempt, while the Monitoring group submitted 4/50 (8%) negative samples. There were no differences in abstinence between groups at EOT or follow-up. Conclusion: This pilot study of a telehealth-based youth vaping cessation intervention demonstrated preliminary feasibility and acceptability. These results suggest that CM for young adult vaping cessation, delivered remotely, is a promising direction for future work and fully powered trials are warranted to assess intervention efficacy. Highlights: We evaluated a short-term remote vaping cessation intervention for young adults. 24/27 (89%) participants completed the 2-month study. Intervention components were rated favorably overall (> 80%). The CM group submitted 112/220 negative cotinine samples during treatment. Telehealth-delivered CM for young adult vaping cessation is a promising future area.