UNC Tobacco Convenience Store Study
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Summary
The main purpose of this trial is to evaluate the impact of a menthol cigarette ban accompanied by a quit smoking campaign on tobacco purchasing behavior. Investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial with \~1,185 US adults (ages 21+ years) who currently smoke menthol cigarettes.
Description
This trial aims to determine whether a quit smoking campaign amplifies the impact of a simulated menthol cigarette ban. The trial will enroll \~1,185 adults ages 21 years and older who currently smoke menthol cigarettes. Participants will attend 2 in-person study visits at our experimental store, spaced approximately 1 week apart. The store will be stocked with a variety of tobacco products, food, non-alcoholic beverages, and household goods. At the first visit, participants will provide written informed consent and will be randomized to 1 of 3 trial arms, described further below. At both stud…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Are ages 21 years and older * Smoke cigarettes currently (i.e. currently smoke some days or every day and have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime) * Smoke menthol cigarettes * Purchased menthol cigarettes in a store in the past month * Read and speak English * Can complete a survey on a computer without help * Can receive images by text message * Can attend 2 in-person appointments involving shopping tasks and computer surveys Exclusion Criteria: * Are pregnant * Are breastfeeding * Enrolled currently in another research study about quitting smoking
Interventions
- BehavioralMenthol ban + campaign
Menthol cigarettes and flavored little cigars and cigarillos will not be available for purchase in the store. Participants will receive quit smoking campaign ads via text message. These ads will also be displayed inside the store during the shopping tasks.
- BehavioralMenthol ban
Menthol cigarettes and flavored little cigars and cigarillos will not be available for purchase in the store. Participants will receive control ads about a neutral topic (i.e., password security) via text message. These ads will also be displayed inside the store during the shopping tasks.
- BehavioralControl
Menthol cigarettes and flavored little cigars and cigarillos will be available for purchase in the store. Participants will receive control ads about a neutral topic (i.e., password security) via text message. These ads will also be displayed inside the store during the shopping tasks.
Location
- UNC Mini MartRaleigh, North Carolina