| Journal | Drug and alcohol dependence |
| Study Type | Randomized Trial |
| Population | Human participants |
People living with HIV have tobacco use rates nearly three times higher than the general population, significantly contributing to their excess morbidity and mortality. Digital therapeutics offer a scalable approach to reach this vulnerable population with smoking cessation interventions, particularly important given access barriers to traditional cessation programs.
This 13-month pilot randomized controlled trial compared a tailored digital therapeutic for HIV patients (Learn to Quit-HIV) versus a standard smoking cessation app (QuitGuide) among 41 participants with HIV across the United States. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy with assessments at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The study focused on feasibility and acceptability as primary outcomes, with preliminary efficacy as secondary. Notably, randomization resulted in higher cannabis use rates in the tailored intervention group, which could confound smoking cessation outcomes.
“While digital therapeutics show promise for reaching underserved populations, this pilot’s small sample size and imbalanced cannabis use between groups limit meaningful conclusions about efficacy. The real value here is demonstrating remote recruitment feasibility for HIV patients seeking smoking cessation support.”
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Table of Contents
- FAQ
- Why are digital therapeutics important for smoking cessation in people living with HIV?
- What is Learn to Quit-HIV (LTQ-H) and how does it differ from standard smoking cessation apps?
- How does cannabis use affect smoking cessation outcomes in people living with HIV?
- Can digital smoking cessation interventions be effectively delivered remotely to people living with HIV?
- Should nicotine replacement therapy be combined with digital therapeutics for HIV patients trying to quit smoking?
FAQ
Why are digital therapeutics important for smoking cessation in people living with HIV?
Tobacco use is disproportionately prevalent among people living with HIV and significantly contributes to morbidity and mortality in this population. Digital therapeutics can facilitate widespread implementation and adoption of smoking cessation treatments, overcoming traditional barriers to reaching PWH communities for cessation support.
What is Learn to Quit-HIV (LTQ-H) and how does it differ from standard smoking cessation apps?
LTQ-H is a digital therapeutic specifically tailored for people living with HIV, designed to address their unique smoking cessation needs. The study compared LTQ-H to QuitGuide, a gold standard smoking cessation digital therapeutic, to evaluate whether HIV-specific tailoring improves outcomes compared to general cessation tools.
How does cannabis use affect smoking cessation outcomes in people living with HIV?
The study found that randomization led to a higher proportion of LTQ-H users with high levels of cannabis use, suggesting cannabis use may be an important factor to consider in smoking cessation interventions. This highlights the need to address polysubstance use patterns when developing cessation programs for PWH.
Can digital smoking cessation interventions be effectively delivered remotely to people living with HIV?
Yes, the study successfully recruited 41 participants with HIV across the United States using remote methods during a 13-month period. This demonstrates the feasibility of reaching geographically dispersed PWH populations through digital platforms for smoking cessation support.
Should nicotine replacement therapy be combined with digital therapeutics for HIV patients trying to quit smoking?
The study protocol included nicotine replacement therapy for all participants alongside the digital therapeutic interventions, following evidence-based practice recommendations. This combined approach addresses both the behavioral and pharmacological aspects of nicotine dependence in people living with HIV.