Communication about E-Cigarettes in a Digital Smoking Cessation Intervention

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are used by some tobacco smokers to reduce and quit tobacco smoking. While it is undoubtedly established that the healthiest option is to quit tobacco smoking abruptly and altogether, the use of e-cigarettes in order to quit tobacco smoking may be considered a second best option in public health. Usually, governmental organizations only provide information on the best option to avoid or mitigate a specific risk. In this experimental study, we will assess the effects of communication about second best options on behavior change and informed decision making. Smokers will be randomized into one of two versions of a digital computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention – either receiving elaborate information about e-cigarettes or not. We will assess the effects of communication about e-cigarettes on smoking reduction, smoking cessation, and informed decision making. The primary outcome will be the number of tobacco cigarettes smoked in the past 7 days after 6 months from baseline. Seven-day point prevalence tobacco abstinence will also be assessed at 6-months follow-up. Differences between both conditions in informed decision making will be assessed directly post intervention.

(1) We hypothesize that participants in the intervention condition will have smoked less tobacco cigarettes (adjusted for baseline measurements) in the past 7 days at 6-month follow-up compared to participants in the control condition.
(2) We hypothesize that participants in the intervention condition will show higher levels of informed decision making directly post intervention compared to participants in the control condition.

Measures of tobacco abstinence will be assessed in a questionnaires at 6-month follow-up.
Informed decision making will be assessed in a questionnaire directly post intervention.

Computer-tailored smoking cessation intervention (based on existing intervention, Trial NL2954)