Study of How Adult Daily Menthol Cigarette Smokers Identify and Describe Cigarette Flavors in New York and California

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how well adults who currently smoke daily can identify cigarette flavors, focusing on menthol cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes, which have a minty aroma and cooling effects, play a significant role in tobacco use and dependence. This study aims to understand if smokers in New York can identify and describe flavors in the same cigarette brands sold in New York versus California, following Californias ban on menthol cigarettes in 2022. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups, called Block Alpha or Block Beta. Each participant attends three testing sessions spaced at least 48 hours but no more than one week apart. During the first session, they complete the Brief Smell Identification Test B-SIT. The second session involves smelling 16 different cigarette products in vials and rating their smells. The third session consists of taste testing three cigarettes and measuring the cooling sensation using a visual scale. All tests are conducted only when participants are free from illness or toxicity. Throughout the study, participants complete sensory questionnaires via a web-based app to record their experiences. Researchers measure the presence of menthol smell, mint-like aromas, and cooling sensations during the taste test over up to one year. The study monitors participant health carefully and excludes those with recent respiratory infections or smell and taste impairments. The total involvement includes multiple visits for sensory testing and questionnaire completion to gather detailed insights on cigarette flavor perception.

Sensory Tests of Cigarettes for Identification of Flavors in Current Daily Smoking Adults