Phone-Based Tobacco Cessation Program for People Living With HIV in Uganda and Zambia Evaluating Nicotine Patches and Text Messaging Support

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a phone-based tobacco cessation program specifically designed for people living with HIV PLWH in Uganda and Zambia. This study compares this intervention to the standard care, which includes brief advice to quit smoking and nicotine replacement therapy using nicotine patches. The research aims to understand how well this approach works, how feasible it is to deliver, and how affordable it might be in healthcare settings with varying tobacco use, policies, and resources. Participants are assigned to one of four groups standard care with advice to quit, standard care plus nicotine patches, standard care plus supportive text messaging, or a combination of all three. The study uses a previously tested SMS platform to provide tailored support messages. This design allows researchers to see which combination helps maintain tobacco abstinence over six months after starting the program. During the study, participants will be monitored for tobacco use abstinence at several points, including 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, and especially at 6 months after enrollment, which is the main outcome. The study also tracks feasibility and acceptability of the interventions within HIV treatment centers. Participants will undergo assessments to support these measurements, with ongoing engagement through text messaging and nicotine therapy where applicable, providing insight into the best ways to support quitting tobacco among PLWH in these regions.

Adapting and Evaluating a Tobacco Use Cessation Program for People Living With HIV in Uganda and Zambia