UW-CTRI has recently completed four studies, with data under analysis for dissemination.
Quitting Using Intensive Treatments Study (QUITS). UW-CTRI is partnering with the UW Department of Medicine Cardiology Division on the study. Participants in Madison and Milwaukee get free medication and coaching. All patients get three months of varenicline pills and coaching; some patients also get nicotine patches and extended medications regimens. The study is designed to answer two key questions: 1) whether adding the nicotine patch to varenicline (Chantix) can boost quit rates; and 2) whether extending varenicline or varenicline + nicotine patch treatment for six months (rather than the standard three months) can boost quit rates. Researchers expect both treatment enhancements (either adding the nicotine patch or extending treatment for 6 months) will yield higher cessation rates among people trying to quit. Patients who smoke and their clinicians are calling for cessation treatment options that can substantially increase current modest quit rates, and the goal of this study is to produce such an enhancement. June 2017-May 2021, $7 million. Funded by NHLBI. Drs. Timothy Baker and James Stein, PIs.