Smoking Cessation Intervention for Young Adults Using MTM: A Randomized Controlled Trial

1. Introduction Tobacco use continues to be a major contributor to preventable disease, disability, and death worldwide. In the United States, despite a general decline in smoking prevalence over the past decades, young adults aged 18-29 continue to demonstrate concerning rates of smoking initiation and persistent use. According to the CDC (2022), approximately 13.8% of individuals in this age group are current cigarette smokers. This prevalence underscores the urgent need for tailored, developmentally appropriate interventions. Young adulthood is a transitional period marked by increased autonomy, identity exploration, and greater susceptibility to risk-taking behaviors. These developmental vulnerabilities are compounded by stress, peer influence, and underdeveloped coping mechanisms, making smoking both an appealing coping strategy and a challenging habit to break. Many young adults begin smoking due to social pressures or emotional distress and struggle to quit due to nicotine addiction, insufficient resources, or low behavioral confidence. Alarmingly, although 67.7% of young adult smokers express a desire to quit, only 8.8% successfully do so. Smoking-related illnesses claim more than 480,000 lives annually in the U.S. and afflict over 16 million people. Globally, over 1.3 billion people use tobacco, with young adults comprising a substantial proportion. In the U.S., daily smoking among young adults rose from 38.7% to 55.9%, and initiation rates climbed from 20.6% in 2002 to 42.6% in 2018. Disparities are even more severe among marginalized groups including low-income populations, racial/ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals due to factors like targeted tobacco marketing, limited access to culturally sensitive care, and socioeconomic barriers. Multiple factors contribute to sustained tobacco use among young adults. Biologically, neurodevelopmental immaturity and genetic predisposition increase susceptibility to nicotine addiction. Psychologically, factors such as anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and stress drive smoking behavior. Social influences including peer norms and social modeling strongly affect initiation and continuation. Environmental exposures to tobacco advertising and inadequate policy enforcement further exacerbate these risks. The short- and long-term health consequences of smoking are well-documented. Acute effects include impaired lung function, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. Chronic exposure leads to diseases such as COPD, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. Reproductive health is also compromised, with links to infertility and pregnancy complications. Moreover, smoking exacerbates mental health conditions and impairs stress coping. Despite the known risks, many young adults lack access to evidence-based, culturally relevant, and behaviorally grounded cessation interventions. Existing programs often rely on outdated models developed for adolescents or older adults, failing to meet the psychological and contextual needs of younger populations. Although digital platforms offer new opportunities, high attrition rates and lack of theoretical grounding limit their effectiveness. 2. Background and Rationale 2.1 Public Health Significance Tobacco-related illness remains a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., with substantial social and economic burdens. Intervening in young adulthood, before lifelong patterns are firmly established, presents a crucial opportunity to reduce future morbidity and mortality. 2.2 Theoretical Framework While traditional behavioral models like the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and Health Belief Model (HBM) have been widely used in cessation programs, they often treat behavior change as linear or static. These limitations reduce their effectiveness in addressing the fluctuating motivations and emotional stressors common among young adults. This study utilizes the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change, a dynamic and integrative framework that distinguishes between initiation and sustenance phases. MTM constructs include participatory dialogue (weighing pros and cons), behavioral confidence (akin to self-efficacy), changes in the physical environment, emotional transformation, practice for change, and restructuring the social environment. MTM has demonstrated effectiveness in various public health contexts and is particularly well-suited to the diverse and evolving behavioral patterns of young adults. 2.3 Evidence Gap Despite MTM's theoretical promise, its application to smoking cessation in young adults is limited. Most available programs fail to incorporate emotional regulation, peer support, or environmental restructuring components that are central to sustained behavior change in this age group. Furthermore, culturally and developmentally tailored interventions remain scarce, leaving many at-risk young adults underserved. This study represents one of the first attempts to systematically apply and evaluate MTM constructs in a targeted smoking cessation intervention for this population. By designing an MTM-based intervention specifically for young adults, this research aims to fill a critical gap in the public health literature and contribute a replicable, theory-driven model for future cessation programs. 3. Study Objectives 3.1 Primary Objectives * To determine whether the MTM-based intervention significantly improves 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at the 12-week follow-up compared to a knowledge-based control group among young adult cigarette smokers. * To assess whether the MTM-based intervention leads to a greater reduction in nicotine dependence, as measured by the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), compared to the control group. 3.2 Secondary Objectives * To examine the extent to which the intervention results in significant positive changes in Multi-Theory Model (MTM) constructs, including participatory dialogue, behavioral confidence, emotional transformation, practice for change, and modifications in the physical and social environment, from baseline to 12-week follow-up. * To assess whether the MTM-based intervention leads to an increase in smoking quit rates among young adult smokers from baseline to the 12-week follow-up. 4. Study Design This study utilizes a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to rigorously assess the effectiveness of a Multi-Theory Model (MTM)-based behavioral intervention compared to a knowledge-based smoking cessation intervention. The trial will be entirely conducted online through secure digital platforms (Qualtrics). This fully virtual format was chosen to enhance participant accessibility, especially for geographically diverse populations, and to optimize participant retention over the study duration. The RCT design adheres to CONSORT guidelines for non-pharmacological trials, providing a robust methodological framework for evaluating behavioral interventions. Eligible participants will be randomized at the individual level in a 1:1 ratio to one of two intervention arms: (1) an MTM-based behavioral intervention (experimental group) or (2) a knowledge-based control intervention. Randomization will be implemented using a computer-generated allocation sequence with block sizes of four, ensuring balanced group assignment. Stratification by gender and baseline nicotine dependence will be considered to control for potential confounding. The intervention period spans four consecutive weeks, during which participants will attend one 90-minute session per week. All sessions will be delivered via encrypted Google Meet to ensure confidentiality and standardization across groups. 5. Intervention Arms 5.1 MTM-Based Intervention (Experimental Group) The experimental condition is informed by the Multi-Theory Model of Health Behavior Change (MTM), which includes both initiation and sustenance constructs. The intervention content was developed in alignment with validated MTM constructs, incorporating participatory pedagogy and cognitive-behavioral strategies. Each weekly session will be co-facilitated by a trained public health graduate student under supervision of academic advisor. A process evaluation will be conducted at the end of each session using the Reach, Quality control, Fidelity, Satisfaction and Management (RQFSM). Session Overview: * Week 1: Focus on participatory dialogue and behavioral confidence. Activities include small group discussions, personal reflection worksheets, and confidence-building role-play exercises + process evaluation * Week 2: Emphasis on emotional transformation and restructuring physical environments. Participants will learn emotional regulation techniques such as guided imagery and design personalized smoke-free action plans + process evaluation * Week 3: Practice for change and relapse prevention strategies. This includes identifying triggers, coping mechanisms, and setting SMART goals + process evaluation * Week 4: Social support and reinforcement systems. Group exercises will include buddy systems, social media support groups, and reward tracking + process evaluation 5.2 Knowledge-Based Intervention (Control Group) Participants in the control group will receive didactic information on smoking cessation strategies, mimicking standard public health education. Content is aligned with U.S. Public Health Service guidelines on tobacco treatment but excludes MTM-based constructs. Session Overview: * Week 1: Education on the health risks of cigarette smoking, including short-term and long-term consequences. * Week 2: Overview of FDA-approved cessation tools, including nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion, and varenicline. * Week 3: Behavioral tips for quitting, including setting a quit date, avoiding triggers, and managing withdrawal symptoms. * Week 4: Maintenance strategies and referral to additional cessation resources, including 1-800-QUIT-NOW and Smokefree.gov. 6. Sample Size Calculation Using G\*Power 3.1.9.7, a sample size of 144 participants (72 per group) was determined to achieve 80% power to detect a medium effect size (f = 0.25) at a significance level of 0.05 for repeated measures. The calculation accounts for an estimated attrition rate of up to 50%, consistent with online behavioral intervention studies targeting young adults. 7. Randomization and Blinding Randomization will be conducted at the individual level using a computer-generated algorithm with block sizes of four to ensure balanced allocation across study arms. Due to the inherent nature of behavioral interventions, blinding of participants, outcome assessors, and statisticians will not be feasible; however, rigorous standardized protocols will mitigate potential bias in outcome assessment and data analysis. 8. Compensation: Each participant will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card after completing each of the four intervention sessions, with an additional $10 awarded upon completing the 12-week follow-up assessment, for a total of up to $50. Participants who do not complete all sessions will receive partial incentives based on their level of participation. These incentives are not funded by any external organization or grant but are personally covered by the co-investigator as part of fulfilling the requirements for his doctoral degree. Amazon e-gift cards were selected as incentives because they offer a convenient, digital delivery method that aligns with our online intervention. Importantly, Amazon does not sell tobacco products, which helps promote a smoke-free lifestyle and reinforces participants' commitment to quitting. This choice also minimizes logistical barriers while supporting the study's health objectives. 9. Data Collection and Management 9.1 Timepoints: * T0 (Baseline): Demographics, smoking history, MTM construct scores, FTND * T1 (Post-Intervention): MTM construct scores, FTND, 7-day PPA, quit rate * T2 (12-Week Follow-Up): FTND, 7-day PPA, quit rate, MTM scores 9.2 Data Collection Tools: All instruments will be administered through Qualtrics, a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant survey platform. Instruments include (49 items in total): * MTM 28-item scale (validated with Cronbach's α \> 0.80) * FTND (6-item instrument, score range: 0-10) * Single-item self-efficacy scale for quit rate: "How confident are you that you can remain completely smoke-free for the next 30 days?" (1 = Not at all confident to 5 = Extremely confident) 9.3 Data Management: Data will be stored on UNLV's secure, encrypted servers and accessed only by authorized research personnel. Each participant will be assigned a unique identifier to ensure anonymity. Weekly data integrity checks and compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and HIPAA standards will be ensured. 9.4 Missing Data: Missing data will be handled using Multiple Imputation (MI) under the assumption of Missing at Random (MAR). 10. Ethical Considerations The study protocol has submitted for the approval from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Institutional Review Board (IRB Protocol #2024-453). Electronic informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to enrollment. Participants will be informed of their right to withdraw at any time without penalty. All procedures will comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and federal regulations on human subject's research. 11. Dissemination Plan Research findings will be shared with both academic and public health audiences. Planned dissemination channels include: * Peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Tobacco Control, Nicotine \& Tobacco Research, and American Journal of Public Health * Conference presentations (e.g., American Public Health Association \[APHA\], Society for Public Health Education \[SOPHE\]) * Policy briefs and executive summaries provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state/local health departments * Lay summaries disseminated via social media platforms and institutional press releases to enhance public engagement 12. Expected Impact This study will contribute new empirical evidence on the utility of the Multi-Theory Model as a framework for behavior change among young adult smokers. By leveraging a fully online design, the intervention could be adapted for national scale-up, particularly among underserved populations with limited access to in-person cessation programs. Findings are expected to inform clinical guidelines, public health curricula, and tobacco control policies aimed at reducing smoking prevalence in young adult populations. Moreover, the integration of behavior change theory with digital health interventions aligns with national strategic priorities in tobacco control, such as those outlined in the FDA's Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation and the Healthy People 2030 objectives.