Vaping BehaviorNCT05985538
Impact of E-Cigarette Prevention Messages on Adolescents
A study testing Vaping prevention text messages and Wellness behaviors text messages in people with Vaping Behavior, run by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this trial is to determine whether a vaping prevention text message program reduces susceptibility to vaping among adolescents and young adults. This study addresses this issue by exposing participants to a vaping prevention text message program over a 28-day period in a randomized controlled trial with… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 20 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Vaping Behavior
- What is being tested?
- Vaping prevention text messages and Wellness behaviors text messages
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 480 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 5 Feb 2024to 12 Aug 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 13 to 20 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Ages 13-20 years old (inclusive)
- Have a phone that sends and receives text messages
- Ever vaped or are susceptible to using e-cigarettes or vaping
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599
About this study
The purpose of this trial is to determine whether a vaping prevention text message program reduces susceptibility to vaping among adolescents and young adults. This study addresses this issue by exposing participants to a vaping prevention text message program over a 28-day period in a randomized controlled trial with a matched attention control condition. A follow-up assessment is also made 4 weeks after the text messaging ends.
Read the detailed description
Tobacco prevention communication is a key tool for reducing tobacco use among adolescents and young adults. While the use of e-cigarettes and vaping has increased greatly among adolescents and young adults, there has been a dearth of research on effective communication strategies to reduce vaping. This study will test the impact of a text-messaging program on reducing susceptibility to vaping in a randomized controlled trial, illuminating whether such programs can be effective. The investigators focus on adolescents and young adults (ages 13-20) who currently vape or who are at risk of vaping.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a vaping prevention text message program or a wellness text message program (control). Participants in the study will take 4 online surveys over an 8-week period - at Visit 1 (baseline), Visit 2 (2 weeks), Visit 3 (4 weeks), and Visit 4 (8 weeks).
- Conditions
- Vaping Behavior
- Being tested
- Vaping prevention text messages, Wellness behaviors text messages
- Keywords
- Health communication, Tobacco use, vaping prevention
- Medical subject headings
- Tobacco Use
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Vaping prevention text messagesBehavioural
Participants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about the harms of e-cigarette use and vaping for 28 days, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. Each vaping prevention text message will focus on one of six topics: nicotine addiction, monetary costs of vaping, chemical exposures from e-cigarette vapor, cosmetic effects of vaping, mental and physical use symptoms of vaping, and health impact on organs from vaping. Some text messages will ask participants for a reply (i.e., two-way messages).
Wellness behaviors text messagesBehavioural
Participants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about general wellness topics, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. Each wellness text message will focus on one of six topics: sleep hygiene, safe driving, sun safety, study habits, nutrition, and exercise. This attention control condition is matched with the intervention condition in that participants will receive the same number of text messages over the same number of days, the same intervention structure (e.g., 6 topics), and the same number and types of two-way messages.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Vaping prevention text messages | Experimental | Participants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about the harms of e-cigarette use and vaping for 28 days, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. Receives: Behavioral: Vaping prevention text messages |
| Wellness behavior text messages | Active comparator | Participants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about general wellness topics, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. Receives: Behavioral: Wellness behaviors text messages |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean Susceptibility to Vaping Score
The mean susceptibility to vaping score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 4 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-4), with higher scores representing a greater susceptibility to vaping (a worse outcome).
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (19)
Mean Vaping Instrumental Attitudes Score
The mean vaping instrumental attitudes score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing a belief that vaping is more beneficial, safe and healthy.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Affective Attitudes Score
.The mean vaping affective attitudes score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing a belief that vaping is more enjoyable, pleasant, and fun.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Addiction Risk Beliefs Score
The mean vaping addiction risk beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing more tendency to addiction.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Monetary Cost Beliefs Score
The mean vaping monetary cost beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores represents participants' believes that vaping is a costly activity.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Chemical Risk Beliefs Score
The mean vaping chemical risk beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing participant's believes that e-cigarette vapor contains chemicals that pose health risks.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Cosmetic Risk Beliefs Score
The mean vaping cosmetic risk beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing participant belief that use will harm their cosmetic appearance.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Health Symptoms Beliefs Score
The mean vaping physical symptoms of use beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores represent participant believes that e-cigarette use will cause certain physical symptoms.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Mental Health Symptoms of Use Beliefs Score
The mean vaping mental health symptoms of use beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores represent participant believes that e-cigarette use will cause or worsen mental health symptoms.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Health Organ Risk Beliefs Score
The mean vaping health organ risk beliefs score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing participant believes that e-cigarette use will harm the health of certain organs.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Susceptibility to Smoking Cigarettes Score
The mean susceptibility to smoking cigarettes score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores represent participant more open to smoking.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Instrumental Attitude Score
The 1-item mean smoking instrumental attitude measure assesses a participant's attitude toward smoking. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale, with higher scores representing a more harmful perception of smoking.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Affective Attitude Score
The 1-item mean smoking affective attitude measure assesses a participant's attitude toward smoking (unenjoyable/enjoyable). Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale, with higher scores representing a more enjoyable attitude toward smoking.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Addiction Risk Belief Score
The 1-item mean smoking addiction risk belief measure assesses the extent to which a participant believes that smoking will lead to addiction. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale, with higher scores representing beliefs that smoking will lead to addiction.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Health Harm Risk Belief Score
The 1-item mean smoking health harm risk belief measure assesses the extent to which a participant believes that smoking will lead to health harm. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale, with higher scores representing higher beliefs that smoking will cause to health harm.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Injunctive Norms Score
The 3-item mean vaping injunctive norms scale assesses a participant's perception of others' approval or disapproval of their vaping behavior. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scores are determined by summing the scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing a participant's perception of others' approval about vaping.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Refusal Self-efficacy Score
The 3-item mean vaping refusal self-efficacy scale assesses a participant's confidence that they could refuse to vape in a social situation. Response options are on a 1 to 5 scale. Overall scores are determined by summing the scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-5), with higher scores representing a higher amount of refuse to vape in a social situation.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Frequency of Vaping
Participants will be asked the number of days they vaped over the past 30 days, with higher scores indicating more days vaped.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Frequency of Cigarette Smoking
Participants will be asked the number of days they smoked cigarettes over the past 30 days, with higher scores indicating more days smoked.
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Frequency of Using Other Tobacco Products
Participants will be asked if they used other tobacco products (OTP) over the past 30 days. OTP use will be determined as follows: no use = person who doesn't use OTPs; used = person who uses OTPs; no response = person who skipped or refused to answer
Measured: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Aug 2023
- Study start5 Feb 2024
- Primary completion12 Aug 2024
- Study completion12 Aug 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Vaping BehaviorStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 480 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Seth Noar, PhD, Principal investigator, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05985538
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20-1245
- Other IDs
- 5R01DA049155-02
- Status last verified
- Aug 2025
- First submitted
- 2 Aug 2023
- Last updated
- 6 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of E-Cigarette Prevention Messages on Adolescents
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05985538
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20-1245
- Conditions
- Vaping Behavior
- Keywords
- Health communication, Tobacco use, vaping prevention
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 480 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Study start
- 5 Feb 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Aug 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 22 Aug 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this trial is to determine whether a vaping prevention text message program reduces susceptibility to vaping among adolescents and young adults. This study addresses this issue by exposing participants to a vaping prevention text message program over a 28-day period in a randomized controlled trial with a matched attention control condition. A follow-up assessment is also made 4 weeks after the text messaging ends.
Detailed description
Tobacco prevention communication is a key tool for reducing tobacco use among adolescents and young adults. While the use of e-cigarettes and vaping has increased greatly among adolescents and young adults, there has been a dearth of research on effective communication strategies to reduce vaping. This study will test the impact of a text-messaging program on reducing susceptibility to vaping in a randomized controlled trial, illuminating whether such programs can be effective. The investigators focus on adolescents and young adults (ages 13-20) who currently vape or who are at risk of vaping.
Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a vaping prevention text message program or a wellness text message program (control). Participants in the study will take 4 online surveys over an 8-week period - at Visit 1 (baseline), Visit 2 (2 weeks), Visit 3 (4 weeks), and Visit 4 (8 weeks).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Vaping prevention text messages | Experimental | Behavioral: Vaping prevention text messagesParticipants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about the harms of e-cigarette use and vaping for 28 days, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. |
| Wellness behavior text messages | Active comparator | Behavioral: Wellness behaviors text messagesParticipants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about general wellness topics, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 20 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Ages 13-20 years old (inclusive)
- Have a phone that sends and receives text messages
- Ever vaped or are susceptible to using e-cigarettes or vaping
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Vaping prevention text messagesParticipants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about the harms of e-cigarette use and vaping for 28 days, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. Each vaping prevention text message will focus on one of six topics: nicotine addiction, monetary costs of vaping, chemical exposures from e-cigarette vapor, cosmetic effects of vaping, mental and physical use symptoms of vaping, and health impact on organs from vaping. Some text messages will ask participants for a reply (i.e., two-way messages). | Behavioural | Vaping prevention text messages |
| Wellness behaviors text messagesParticipants will receive text messages (2 daily, on average) about general wellness topics, with introductory messages sent on day 1 and concluding messages sent on day 28. Each wellness text message will focus on one of six topics: sleep hygiene, safe driving, sun safety, study habits, nutrition, and exercise. This attention control condition is matched with the intervention condition in that participants will receive the same number of text messages over the same number of days, the same intervention structure (e.g., 6 topics), and the same number and types of two-way messages. | Behavioural | Wellness behavior text messages |
Primary outcome
Mean Susceptibility to Vaping Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
The mean susceptibility to vaping score will be assessed using the questionnaire. Response options are on a 1 to 4 scale. Overall scale scores are determined by summing scores of the 3 items and dividing them by 3 (range 1-4), with higher scores representing a greater susceptibility to vaping (a worse outcome).
19 secondary outcomes
Mean Vaping Instrumental Attitudes Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Affective Attitudes Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Addiction Risk Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Monetary Cost Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Chemical Risk Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Cosmetic Risk Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Health Symptoms Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Mental Health Symptoms of Use Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Health Organ Risk Beliefs Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Susceptibility to Smoking Cigarettes Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Instrumental Attitude Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Affective Attitude Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Addiction Risk Belief Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Smoking Health Harm Risk Belief Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Injunctive Norms Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Mean Vaping Refusal Self-efficacy Score
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Frequency of Vaping
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Frequency of Cigarette Smoking
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Frequency of Using Other Tobacco Products
Time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Oct 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Clinical TrialsLink provided by the sponsor.
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Young Adult Tobacco/Nicotine and Cannabis Co-use
Tobacco Use Disorder, Nicotine Dependence
Recruiting
Social Media Support Groups for Adolescent Vaping Cessation
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§SMOKE Nicotine and Tobacco Youth Cohort
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Seth Noar, PhD principal investigator
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Vaping prevention text messages and Wellness behaviors text messages in people with Vaping Behavior, run by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mean Susceptibility to Vaping Score (time frame: Visit 3 (4 weeks)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Oct 2026.