# Digital Smoking Cessation Programs in HIV Care

> **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637)
> **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com)
> **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/digital-smoking-cessation-programs-hiv-care/
> **Published:** 2026-04-25T11:02:12-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-27T23:00:04-04:00
> **Clinical Summary:** Explore digital smoking cessation programs HIV tailored for people living with HIV, offering accessible and effective tobacco cessation support.

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#### Clinical Takeaway

Clinical Takeaway

Digital [smoking cessation](https://cedclinic.com/nicotine-e-cigarettes-smoking-cessation-success-umass-amherst/) programs tailored specifically for people living with HIV can reach a traditionally underserved population and show comparable effectiveness to standard programs. These digital tools offer a practical solution to address the disproportionately high tobacco use burden in people with HIV by enabling remote access to evidence-based cessation support without requiring in-person clinical visits.

### #23 Population reach, feasibility and acceptability of digital therapeutics for smoking cessation among people living with HIV: Results of the Quitting Matters pilot trial.

**Citation:** Vilardaga R et al. *Population reach, feasibility and acceptability of [digital therapeutics](https://cedclinic.com/social-media-addiction-liability-cases/) for smoking cessation among people living with HIV: Results of the Quitting Matters pilot trial.* Drug and alcohol dependence. 2026. PMID: 41512654.

**Study type:** Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial  | 

**Topic area:** [Drug Interactions](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-liver-interactions-study-insights/)  | 

**CED Score:** 10

Design: 5 Journal: 0 N: 1 Recency: 3 Pop: 2 Human: 1 Risk: -2

**Quality Gate Alerts:**
- Preclinical only

**Abstract:** INTRODUCTION: Tobacco use is disproportionately prevalent among people living with HIV (PWH) and is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in this population. Reaching communities of PWH to facilitate smoking cessation is challenging. Digital Therapeutics (DTx) can facilitate widespread implementation and adoption of smoking cessation treatments for PWH. METHODS: We compared the feasibility and acceptability (primary outcomes) and preliminary efficacy (secondary outcome) of a DTx tailored to PWH — Learn to Quit-HIV (LTQ-H) — versus a gold standard smoking cessation DTx (QuitGuide) in a remote pilot randomized controlled trial. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and were assessed at weeks 4, 8, and 12. RESULTS: During a 13-month period, we remotely recruited a sample of PWH (n = 41) across the United States, with randomization leading to a higher proportion of LTQ-H users with high levels of [cannabis use](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-cardiovascular-health-insights-2024/). Digital markers of DTx use indicated that compared to QuitGuide, assignment to LTQ-H led to significantly greater number of device interactions (3610 vs 2086; RR=93.14; 95 % CI: 14.70-590; p 

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### Verification & Medical Governance

- **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD
- **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House).
- **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`).
- **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/).
- **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637).
- **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).