Oral Nicotine Product Messaging to Communicate Risk of Use for Young Adults

Message Effects on Perceptions of Oral Nicotine Products

This clinical trial tests the effect of different types of oral nicotine pouch (ONP) messaging to communicate risk of using these products for young adults. Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death due to cancer and other outcomes in the U.S. Tobacco products vary in the health risks they pose to users. Combustible tobacco products such as cigarettes pose higher risks than noncombustible nicotine and tobacco products such as ONPs. Despite the lower harm potential of ONPs for those who use tobacco, there are potential risks to non-users, especially susceptible young adults. Different types of messaging that include information about absolute risk and addiction, risks of ONPs relative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes, ability to use ONPs instead of cigarettes/e-cigarettes (switching), and the potential benefits of doing so and potential benefits of switching to ONPs may be more or less effective in communicating risk for young adults.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To test the effects of ONP messages on:

Ia. message response (e.g., perceived effectiveness) and Ib. ONP curiosity and intentions.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To test the effects of ONP messages on ONP harms beliefs and perceptions; and motivation to quit cigarettes/e-cigarettes.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 5 arms.

ARM I: Participants receive messaging regarding absolute risk of ONPs. Participants engage with the content at their discretion.

ARM II: Participants receive messaging regarding self and response efficacy about ability to use ONPs. Participants engage with the content at their discretion.

ARM III: Participants receive messaging regarding relative risk about the risks of ONPs relative to cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Participants engage with the content at their discretion.

ARM IV: Participants receive messaging regarding switching to ONPs. Participants engage with the content at their discretion.

ARM V: Participants do not receive messaging.

Inclusion Criteria:

• United States (U.S.) young adults aged 18 - 30 years

• Current cigarette smokers. Current smokers are those who smoked 100 lifetime cigarettes and now are smoking every day or some days

• Current e-cigarette users. Current e-cigarette users are those who have ever tried an e-cigarette or other electronic vaping product even once and are now using every day or some days

• Susceptible nonusers of cigarettes or e-cigarettes. Susceptible nonusers are those who have never tried cigarettes/e-cigarettes and respond with any response other than "definitely not" to any of the following items:

  • "Have you ever been curious about using cigarettes/e-cigarettes?"
  • "Do you think that you will try a(n) cigarette/e-cigarette soon?"
  • "If one of your best friends were to offer you a(n) cigarette/e-cigarette, would you use it?"
  • "Do you think you will use cigarettes/e-cigarettes in the next year?"

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who do not meet age and tobacco-related criteria, unable to complete study procedures online in English, or do not reside in the U.S. will be excluded