A Text Messaging Program for Smokers in Primary Care

This study is a four arm pilot randomized controlled trial testing the effect of a 12 week text messaging intervention and a mailed nicotine medication intervention, alone and in combination to a control condition consisting of brief behavioral advice and usual care. Research Aim 1: To test, in a 4 arm pilot randomized controlled trial (N=50/group), the effect of a text messaging program and mailed nicotine replacement therapy on smoking outcomes and medication use. Hypothesis 1: A text messaging intervention will increase the proportion of smokers making a quit attempt compared to smokers receiving no text messaging. Hypothesis 2: A text messaging intervention will increase adherence to nicotine replacement therapy compared to subjects receiving only 2 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. Hypothesis 3: A text messaging intervention will increase the rate of biochemically confirmed past 7-day point prevalent tobacco abstinence at end of treatment compared to subjects receiving no text messaging intervention. Hypothesis 4: A text messaging intervention will increase the number of days not smoking compared to subjects receiving no text messaging intervention. Hypothesis 5: A text messaging intervention will decrease the number of cigarettes smoked per day compared to subjects receiving no text messaging intervention.