There are currently two sensorimotor replacement products which may be of benefit in smoking cessation: de-nicotinised cigarettes (denics) and electronic cigarettes (ECs), and the purpose of this project is to investigate whether these replacements can help to alleviate tobacco withdrawal symptoms in smokers, during a period of abstinence. This project will be separated into two studies, following the same design and procedures. Study 1 will seek to confirm the importance of sensorimotor cues by comparing the efficacy of a nicotine-free EC in alleviating withdrawal symptoms, to a behavioural distraction tool (e.g. stress ball) which provides no smoking-related cues. Study 2 will investigate whether sensorimotor replacements which are more proximal to smoking (i.e. Denics), will be more effective in alleviating withdrawal symptoms than a replacement which only delivers some of the conditioned sensorimotor cues (i.e. ECs). The investigators hypothesise that the EC will be more effective at reducing withdrawal symptoms compared to the stress ball in Study 1. In Study 2, it is hypothesised that the Denic will be more effective than the EC.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
In a cross over design, participants will be randomly allocated to: 1. use a stress ball for 5 minutes during a 1 hour controlled experiment. They will also use the stress ball for one day outside of the study centre. 2. use a nicotine-free EC for 5 minutes during a 1 hour controlled experiment. They will also use the EC ad-libitum for one day outside of the study centre. One week later participants will complete the other arm.
In a cross over design, participants will be randomly allocated to: 1. use a nicotine-free EC for 5 minutes during a 1 hour controlled experiment. They will also use the EC ad-libitum for one day outside of the study centre. 2. smoke 1 de-nicotinised cigarette during a 1 hour controlled experiment. They will also be given a pack to smoke ad-libitum for one day outside of the study centre. One week later participants will complete the other arm.
Tobacco Dependence Research Unit
London, United Kingdom
Urge to smoke at 10 minutes post product use
Urges to smoke will be measured at 10 minutes after use of products
Time frame: 10 minutes
Tobacco withdrawal symptom ratings over 1 hour
Change withdrawal ratings one hour after product use
Time frame: 1 hour
Tobacco withdrawal symptom ratings over one day
Change in tobacco withdrawal symptom ratings over a day
Time frame: 1 day
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