Studies Open for Enrollment

Pennsylvania Adolescent Smoking Study (PASStudy) – A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Motivational Interviewing and Structured Brief Advice for the Reduction of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing (MI) compared to Structured Brief Advice (SBA) to reduce cigarette smoking among adolescents who smoke. MI is a client-centered directive method that matches counseling to an individual's readiness to change. SBA uses scripted, brief cessation counseling that follows standard smoking cessation guidelines. This is a state-sponsored initiative with 330 participants targeted across 3 sites in Pennsylvania, including Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

Candidates
Pennsylvania adolescents ages 14 to 18 who have smoked at least 1 cigarette a week for the past 4 weeks and at least 5 packs in their lifetime.
Boys: 14 through 18 years
Girls: 14 through 18 years

Requirements
Study participants will complete an intake evaluation and be randomly assigned to either the MI or SBA study group. Participants in both groups will receive 5 counseling sessions over 8 weeks. For each group, 3 sessions will take place in the office, and the last 2 can be either by telephone or in the office. Participants also will complete follow-up assessments at 8, 12 and 24 weeks.
Visits: 9
Duration: 6 months

Status: Open for Enrollment

How to Participate
To get started, please contact:
Melissa Jones, MPH
412-692-8514

Additional Resources
Adolescent smoking
Study description at National Institutes of Health

Principal Investigator
Pamela Murray, MD
Adolescent Medicine

Source of Support
Pennsylvania Department of Health