The INITIATE Study Testing a Quit Smoking Program with Gift Card Support for Smokers in Emergency Departments and Community Care Settings

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating an intervention aimed at increasing long-term smoking abstinence among tobacco smokers who visit emergency departments and other busy hospital and community healthcare settings. This randomized controlled trial focuses on improving quit rates by combining behavioral incentives with tailored follow-up support. Smoking causes many preventable health problems, including heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, and cancers, and quitting can reduce these risks. The study addresses the gap in quit smoking support offered in high-volume care environments in Canada. The intervention group receives a Quit Card, which is a 300 gift card to purchase nicotine replacement therapies at pharmacies, along with self-help materials and six months of personalized telephone counseling from a Nicotine Addiction Treatment Specialist. Participants are randomly assigned to either this Quit Card Intervention QCI group or a usual care group that receives no intervention. The study design allows for direct comparison of the impact of this behavioral and drug-related support against standard care. Participants will be followed for up to 12 months, with assessments at 4, 26 6 months, and 52 weeks after enrollment. Researchers will measure smoking abstinence, quit attempts, smoking reduction, use of cessation medications or e-cigarettes, behavioral support use, quality of life, healthcare visits, hospital admissions, deaths, and cost-effectiveness. Follow-up includes telephone assessments and linkage to health administrative data. The total participation duration covers one year with multiple evaluations to understand long-term outcomes and healthcare impacts.

The INITIATE Study: Initiating Nicotine Dependence Treatment for Smokers Admitted to Emergency Departments