Addressing Tobacco Use Disparities Through an Innovative Mobile Phone Intervention

Addressing Tobacco Use Disparities Through an Innovative Mobile Phone Intervention: The Text to Forgo Smokeless Tobacco

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a Scheduled Gradual Reduction (SGR) intervention via Short Message Service (SMS) text messaging plus SMS Support Messages in decreasing smokeless tobacco use in a rural population.

Participants will be randomized to either the Scheduled Gradual Reduction (SGR) group or the control group. All participants in both groups will complete surveys at the baseline, end of program, and 6 month time points. All participants in both groups will also receive supportive counseling text messages at various times during the day over a period of 4 weeks.

Participants assigned to the SGR intervention group will receive their intervention, in addition to the supportive counseling messages received by the control group, via text message over a period of four weeks. Participants will initially report their smokeless tobacco use according to their usual habit, and over the course of the intervention be directed via text message precise times to start and stop each instance of smokeless tobacco use, gradually reducing the occurrences of use.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years of age
• Have used smokeless tobacco for the last year, currently (past 30 days) uses smokeless tobacco daily, and use of at least one or more tins/cans per week
• Have an address in a rural census tract defined by a RUCA code of 4-10.
• Interested in participating in a cessation program
• Have access to a cell phone with unlimited texting ability and have knowledge of text messaging

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speaking
• Have smoked cigarettes or used any other tobacco product in the past 30 days (i.e., dual user)
• Currently participating in a smokeless tobacco cessation study
• Family member participating in a smokeless tobacco cessation study