University of Wisconsin–Madison

Avenues study goes national

For people who both smoke and vape, there will be new paths to help them address their relationship with nicotine – now from coast to coast.

The Avenues study has expanded to recruit nationally, thanks to funding from the National Cancer Institute.

UW-CTRI Research Director Dr. Megan Piper and UW-CTRI Associate Director Dr. Tim Baker lead the study, with support from the administrative team.

“The goal of the research is to identify the most effective ways to help people who both smoke and vape to quit smoking,” Piper said. “Now, we’re excited to offer this study completely virtually, through online coaching and questionnaires, with study products sent via the mail.”

UW-CTRI will recruit using social media advertisements nationwide.

“This has been a huge undertaking by our IT and data teams, as well as our health counselors to learn new protocols,” said Baker. “So, a tip of the cap to them for all they’re doing to help us reach people across the country. We’re excited.”

Researchers will recruit 500 people into the study who both smoke and vape. Participants will be randomized to one of two levels of each treatment factor:

  1. Medications: Participants will get either varenicline or nicotine patch.
  2. Counseling approach: Participants will either be encouraged to just quit smoking (and keep vaping) or to quit both smoking and vaping.
  3. Counseling intensity: Participants will get either one coaching session or four sessions.

Participants can earn up to $445 by completing the year-long study.

Real-Time Data
Participants will use smartphones to share information with researchers for two weeks before and after their quit dates. Every evening, participants will record smoking, vaping, medication use, craving levels, self-efficacy and other insights.

To date, no published studies have identified effective ways to help people who both smoke and vape to quit smoking in the long-term.

“As more and more people both smoke and vape, we’re excited to learn how to help them quit smoking,” Piper said.

Drs. Piper’s and Baker’s efforts were supported by grant number GR000034453 from the National Cancer Institute.