Does Switching to Nicotine-containing Electronic Cigarettes Reduce Health Risk Markers?

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Project Summary/Abstract for Diversity Supplement The candidate of this Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Diversity Supplement) (Dr. Sophia Allen) will investigate the social and economic factors that may influence clinical trial enrollment and retention of participants in the parent grant (U01-DA045517) and determine if these same factors are associated with participants’ ability to switch from traditional cigarettes to a NIDA Standardized Research Electronic Cigarette (SREC). Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in the U.S. yet vulnerable and minority populations (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, African Americans, etc.) bear a disproportionate burden of tobacco-caused disease. The disproportionate impact from smoking has been attributed to low utilization of cessation treatment services, less access to health care, and the underrepresentation of minority populations in clinical trials, all of which may be influenced by the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). National initiatives such as Healthy People 2020 and the National Academy of Medicine reports have identified SDoH as a priority for better understanding health disparities. Thus, using tools to identify the environmental, behavioral, and social causes and consequences of nicotine addiction may help to reduce the adverse health effects of traditional cigarette smoking. To date, there is no data available on the SDoH, clinical trial enrollment, retention, and the ability to switch from traditional cigarettes to an electronic cigarette such as the NIDA Standardized Research Electronic Cigarette (SREC). We have developed an assessment tool adapted from the Protocol for Responding to and Assessing Patients’ Assets, Risks, and Experiences (PRAPARE) instrument and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire to gain a comprehensive understanding of participants’ social and economic needs. Standard core measures will be collected and responses from the adapted PRAPARE instrument will be analyzed by Dr. Allen to measure enrollment, retention and the ability of participants to switch from traditional cigarettes to a SREC. The proposed supplemental study will inform the parent study by providing a potential explanatory mechanism for participants’ ability to transition to an e-cigarette while also identifying health disparities among vulnerable and minority populations. The overarching goal of this Diversity Supplement is for Dr. Allen, to gain research experience as a postdoctoral trainee and transition to an independent investigator in substance abuse (nicotine) research with a focus on health disparities. The candidate’s proposed four areas of focus include: (1) clinical trials research training and experience; (2) biostatistical methods; (3) research publications and grant writing; and (4) responsible conduct of research. Together, this training and experience will allow Dr. Allen to develop K-series and subsequent R-series grant applications.