Journal Article

Nicotine Intervention and Communication for Empowering Reduction (NICER): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial among priority populations of people who smoke

Pechacek, Terry F., Popova, Lucy, Ni, Winnie, Pei, Di, Kodriati, Nurul, Nkansah, Prudence, Ogunnaike, Adebusola, Kirpich, Alexander, Foster, Jordan D., Henderson, Katherine C., Juris, Aubrey, Adeniji, Folashayo P., Ashley, David L., Thrasher, James F., Spears, Claire A., Giordano, Nicholas A., Mallory, Vanessa C.

2025

Overview

Background Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death, disproportionately affecting people with low socioeconomic status (SES) and serious psychological distress (SPD). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products to minimally addictive levels, a policy with significant public health potential. However, misperceptions about very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs), such as beliefs that they are less harmful or ineffective for quitting, may reduce policy effectiveness. While previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the effects of using VLNCs, none have incorporated messaging to address misperceptions. This study evaluates the impact of a messaging campaign on smoking behaviors, risk perceptions, and quit intentions among people who smoke, focusing on individuals with low SES, SPD, and neither. The primary objective is to assess whether exposure to VLNC-related messages reduces the number of cigarettes smoked per day compared to VLNC use alone. Secondary objectives include examining effects on other tobacco product use, nicotine dependence, forgoing cigarettes, perceived risks, and quit intentions. Methods This multi-site, open-label, parallel-arm RCT will enroll 1230 adults who smoke ( n  = 410 per group: with SPD, low SES, neither category). After a 1-week baseline period, participants will be randomized (1:1) to receive either (1) VLNCs with messaging or (2) VLNCs only (control). Messaging will include pack inserts and digital ads shown during weekly visits to address misperceptions and encourage quitting. Participants will complete daily logs via text messages and attend weekly visits over 4 weeks for data collection, including self-reported smoking behavior, expired carbon monoxide (CO) samples, and questionnaire assessments. The primary outcome is the number of cigarettes smoked per day in the final study week (week 4). Secondary outcomes include the use of other tobacco products, nicotine dependence, forgoing cigarettes, and quit intentions. Discussion This trial will be the first to examine the effects of a messaging campaign accompanying VLNC use among priority populations. Results will inform FDA regulatory strategies and public health messaging to support nicotine reduction policy implementation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06787937. Registered on 22 January 2025.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adult / Behavior / Biomedicine / Carbon monoxide / Cigarettes / Clinical trials / Communication / Emotional disorders / Empowerment / Female / Health aspects / Health communication / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Health Sciences / Humans / Institutional repositories / Intervention / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental disorders / Mental health / Multicenter Studies as Topic / Nicotine / Nicotine - administration & dosage / Nicotine - adverse effects / Perceptions / Product reviews / Psychological Distress / Public health / Questionnaires / Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Smokers - psychology / Smoking / Smoking - adverse effects / Smoking - psychology / Smoking Cessation - methods / Smoking Cessation - psychology / Smoking cessation programs / Smoking Prevention - methods / Socioeconomic status / Statistics for Life Sciences / Stress (Psychology) / Study Protocol / Time Factors / Tobacco / Tobacco Products / Tobacco Use Disorder - diagnosis / Tobacco Use Disorder - prevention & control / Tobacco Use Disorder - psychology / Tobacco Use Disorder - therapy / Treatment Outcome / United States