Biomarker Feedback for Smoking Cessation

The smoking pattern among adults in the US is undergoing a remarkable change. A substantial
proportion of smokers are now light smokers (smoke ≤ 10 cigarettes per day), yet little is
known about how to help light smokers quit. The prevalence of light smoking is high (~50%)
among African Americans (AAs) who compared to other groups have high cotinine levels, are
less successful quitting smoking, and experience disproportionately higher smoking-related
cancers. Because light smokers often think that smoking fewer cigarettes a day is safe, a
potential smoking cessation strategy is therefore to provide light smokers with feedback on
biomarkers of tobacco exposure and increased cancer risk. The objective of this proposal is
to develop and pilot test a biomarker risk assessment intervention to enhance smoking
cessation for AA light smokers. The proposal builds on our previous work that shows that
light smokers have 1) difficulty quitting smoking, 2) lower perceived health risks, but high
levels of biomarkers (e.g. cotinine). This study will occur in 2 phases. Phase 1 will utilize
focus groups to examine prevailing knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about biomarkers as well
as preferences about how participants would like to receive biomarker feedback (BF; e.g. by
mail, phone, in-person). In Phase 2, data from the focus groups will be used to develop a
(BF) intervention for light smokers. The new intervention will undergo further feasibility
evaluation among 60 adult light smokers. Outcomes in Phase 2 will include process measures,
(e.g. perceived usefulness, acceptance, and adherence) and changes in biomarker values with
smoking reduction or cessation. By the end of the proposed pilot study, we expect to have
developed a replicable, feasible, and acceptable BF intervention that will be ready for
efficacy testing in a large clinical trial for smoking cessation or smoking reduction. The
aims of the application are to: 1) Examine the prevailing knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and
preferences about BF for smoking cessation among AA light smokers; 2) Develop a BF
intervention for smoking cessation among AA light smokers; and 3) Test the feasibility of a
BF intervention for smoking cessation in AA light smokers.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or female cigarette smokers, 18-75 years

- Smoked an average of less than 10 cigarettes per day during past month

- A personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject
has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Only one subject per household may participate

- Pregnancy