Effect of an Acute Bout of Exercise on Smoking Topography

University of Western Ontario, Canada110 enrolled

Overview

Smokers will complete questionnaires and smoking behaviour will be examined. After abstaining from smoking for approximately 18 hours, they will be randomized to a moderate intensity exercise group or passive sitting group. Smoking behaviour (time to first puff) will be assessed following treatment.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Canadians (Canadian Cancer Society, in which cigarette smoking is responsible for 85% of these cases. Smoking topography, a key facet of smoking behaviour, can be subjectively or objectively measured by quantifying puff volume, maximum puff velocity, interpuff interval, puff duration, number of puffs per cigarette, and the time to smoke a single cigarette. Smoking topography can estimate exposure to carcinogenic toxins present in cigarette smoking (Djordjevic, Hoffman, \& Hoffman, 1997). Evidence exists to support that exercise modifies smoking topography (Katomeri \& Taylor 2006; Mikhail, 1983; Reeser, 1983; Zacny \& Stitzer, 1985). Recently, Faulkner and colleagues (2011; N = 18) were the first to implement a handheld smoking topography device (CReSS Pocket) to measure smoking behaviour in the context of an acute bout of exercise after a temporary period of abstinence. They found that brisk walking influences an individual's smoking topography. In specific, participants assigned to the exercise condition smoked less per puff and took shorter puff durations, compared to the passive sitting condition. Overall, smoking topographical studies require further investigation due to methodological flaws in order to allow for the objective collection of smoking behaviour data and improved external validity in a sufficiently powered study. Furthermore, the role of cravings, withdrawal and affect as potential mediators of topographical changes due to exercise is a novel area of research.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

110

Conditions

Cancer

Interventions

Moderate Exercise GroupBEHAVIORAL

Participants will be required to walk briskly (equivalent to moderate intensity) on a treadmill for 10 minutes.

Passive Sitting GroupBEHAVIORAL

Participants will be required to sit passively for 10 minutes on a chair.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 to 64 years of age * Smoke 10 cigarettes or more per day * Not have any medical condition that is contraindicative for exercise * Not be pregnant or intending on being pregnant over the course of the study * Be able to read and write in English * Have a telephone or an email account so that they can be contacted * Completed the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) * Have Medical Doctor's clearance if they answer "YES" to one or more questions on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) * Have not been engaged in a serious quit attempt in the last six months * Have been smoking for more than 2 years * Must not be suffering from an illness (e.g. cold) that would affect their typical smoking behaviour Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to exercise (e.g., disability, unstable angina) * On medication for physical and/or mental health reasons that would make compliance with the study protocol difficult or dangerous * Have substance dependency problems (e.g., alcohol) * Are pregnant * Be younger than 18 years of age * Be 64 years or older prior to completion of the study * Have been engaged in a serious quit attempt in the last six months * Have been smoking for less than 2 years * Suffering from an illness (e.g. cold) that would affect their typical smoking behaviour

Locations (1)

Exercise and Health Psychology Laboratory- University of Western Ontario

London, Ontario, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Smoking topography

Smoking topography will be assessed using the Clinical Research Support System (CReSS) Pocket, a computer-based, battery-powered, hand-held unit by Plowshare Technologies®. The CReSS Pocket has an orifice flow meter mouthpiece, and a pressure drop related to the flow rate that is produced when a puff is taken. From the flow rate, the CReSS derives puff count (number of puffs per cigarette), puff volume (the volume of carbon monoxide take in during each puff), puff duration (length of time for each puff), inter-puff interval (amount of time between puffs), and time to first puff.

Time frame: One week

Secondary Outcomes

Withdrawal symptoms

Changes in cravings, positive and negative affect, and mood and physical symptoms will be assessed using three questionnaires.

Time frame: One week

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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