The goal of this pragmatic trial is to compare the effects of text messages on quitline enrollment by patients identified in electronic health records as unassisted tobacco users. The main question it aims to answer is: Do messages offering free counseling or free nicotine patches by text increase quitline enrollment? Researchers will compare if people receiving texts about free nicotine patches will have higher quitline enrollment than texts about free counseling. Participants will receive a text message stratified by quitline language and click on the toll-free number to access quitline services.
Participants were patients of Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LADHS). Through the LADHS population health team, eligible patients were identified through data extraction from the electronic health record for quality metric reporting. Participants were stratified by language (English, Spanish) by LADHS, then randomly assigned to one of two groups. The randomization assignment was generated by a statistician from Kick It California, and text messages were assigned to groups and delivered by LADHS. Group 1 received a text message offering free quitline coaching. Group 2 received a text message offering free nicotine patches. The texts were sent April-May 2022 and were in English or Spanish according to patient preference. All messages contained a toll-free number to access services, which could be called directly from the text message link, but for tracking purposes different numbers were used. The quitline, Kick It California, offered coaching to all enrolled participants. The quitline also mailed a 2-week supply of nicotine patches to all enrolled participants unless contraindicated, regardless of which text offer they received. To ensure equitable access, a second text was sent to all participants in June 2022 offering free NRT.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
4,171
Text message offering free quitline coaching. FREE HELP: Hello #first name#, Kick It California works with your provider to help you quit smoking at no cost. A Quit Coach can double your chances of quitting. For more info call 1-844-XXXXXXX.
Text message for free nicotine patches with free quitline counseling. FREE NRT: Hello #first name#, Kick It California works with your provider to help you quit smoking at no cost. You may be able to get nicotine patches mailed to your home at no cost. For more info call 1-844-XXXXXXX.
(Spanish translation available as only English text can be published online in clincialtrials.gov): Text message offering free quitline coaching. FREE HELP: Hello #first name#, Kick It California works with your provider to help you quit smoking at no cost. A Quit Coach can double your chances of quitting. For more info call 1-844-XXXXXXX.
(Spanish translation available as only English text can be published online in clinicaltrials.gov): Text message for free nicotine patches with free quitline counseling. FREE NRT: Hello #first name#, Kick It California works with your provider to help you quit smoking at no cost. You may be able to get nicotine patches mailed to your home at no cost. For more info call 1-844-XXXXXXX.
Kick It California
San Diego, California, United States
Calls to the quitline
Proportion of patients (identified as a tobacco user who has not received cessation assistance) calling the quitline from the link in the text message
Time frame: 1 month
Receipt of quitline treatment
Proportion of patients (identified as tobacco user who has not received cessation assistance) who called the quitline from a text message and received evidence-based cessation treatments (e.g., quitline coaching, nicotine replacement therapy medication, or both)
Time frame: 1-3 months
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