Study on Nicotine Product Claims and Perceptions

This study is looking at how different labels on nicotine products affect what people think about them and if they would use them. Researchers are testing how claims about nicotine concentration (none, low, high) and nicotine source (none, "Tobacco Free," "Synthetic Nicotine") influence your perceptions and behaviors. We're looking for young adults (18-24) who haven't used nicotine products but might be open to it, and adults (18-65) who already use tobacco or nicotine. The main goal is to see how these labels impact your visual attention to the packaging and your reported thoughts and intentions about using these products. The study plans to enroll 450 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study with 450 participants. You would be randomly assigned to view different nicotine product packaging images.
What's involved
You will view images of nicotine-containing product packaging, complete a lapse task test, and fill out questionnaires during a single study day.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your visual attention will be measured at a single time point during exposure on day 1.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06192316

Human Laboratory Study of the Effects of Nicotine Product Claims on Appeal, Perceptions, and Use Behavior

Recruiting
NAAges 18–65InterventionalPrevention
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
~450 participants
Updated 2026-02-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:3x3 between-subjects experimental exposure

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Visual Attention - Dwell Time
Measured over 1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)
+8 more outcomes measured
Behavior, Risk
1 sites across 1 states
Ohio1
  • Darren Mays, MPH, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Young adult susceptible non-users aged 18-24 who have never used ONPs and have never used but are susceptible to using either:
combustible tobacco only (cigarettes, cigars, waterpipe)
non-combustible tobacco only (ST, ECs, heated tobacco products)
or both combustible and non-combustible tobacco (i.e., dual susceptibility)
Adult tobacco users aged 18-65 who have never used ONPs OR have used ONPs \>3 months ago and 10 times or less in their lifetime. All adult tobacco users must also be:
exclusive combustible tobacco users
exclusive non-combustible tobacco users
dual users
For adult tobacco users, we will define current use as use of combustible and/or non-combustible tobacco every day or some days for 6 months or longer
Willing and able to complete an in-person lab visit.

Exclusion

Age \< 18 or \> 65
Are not susceptible non-users or current tobacco users
Are unwilling or unable to complete and in person lab visit.
Have used ONPs within the past 3 months
Have used ONPs more than 10 times in their lifetime
  • Visual Attention - Dwell Time1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    Visual attention will be measured via eye movements using SmartEye AI-X eye tracker with a 60 Hz sampling rate. Areas of interest (AOIs) will be predefined for each pack image including: 1) Full pack image; 2) Nicotine concentration; 3) Nicotine source claim; 4) Branding (i.e., brand name, flavors); 5) Warning label. A primary outcome for visual attention will be dwell time on AOIs.

  • Visual Attention - Time to First Fixation1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    Visual attention will be measured via eye movements using SmartEye AI-X eye tracker with a 60 Hz sampling rate. Areas of interest (AOIs) will be predefined for each pack image including: 1) Full pack image; 2) Nicotine concentration; 3) Nicotine source claim; 4) Branding (i.e., brand name, flavors); 5) Warning label. A primary outcome for visual attention will be time to first fixation on AOIs.

  • Visual Attention - Number of Fixations1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    Visual attention will be measured via eye movements using SmartEye AI-X eye tracker with a 60 Hz sampling rate. Areas of interest (AOIs) will be predefined for each pack image including: 1) Full pack image; 2) Nicotine concentration; 3) Nicotine source claim; 4) Branding (i.e., brand name, flavors); 5) Warning label. A primary outcome for visual attention will be number of fixations (i.e., saccades) to AOIs.

  • Cognitive Attention1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    Conceptualized as the cognitive resources allocated to encode a message into working memory, attention will be operationalized as the difference in heart rate (HR) between a baseline period prior to each pack image and during each second of the pack image exposure assessed with ECG. Beats per minute (BPM) will be collected with the Shimmer3 sampled at 512 Hz. This is an established psychophysiological measure of cognitive resources devoted to stimuli processing.

  • Arousal1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    Arousal is an indicator of physiological activation of the sympathetic nervous system and will be measured by skin conductance using Shimmer3 Galvanic Skin Response EDA sensors sampled at 128 Hz

  • Recall1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    We will capture unaided recall, a measure of storage in memory, via 3 open ended questions on a questionnaire pertaining to nicotine concentration, brand names, and source information corresponding to conditions to which participants are randomized. Responses will be coded, and coding reliability will be established, to create a score with higher values reflecting better recall of information about nicotine dimensions in the stimuli.

  • ONP Perceptions1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    We will capture perceptions of ONPs with 7 items that align with expert recommendations for assessing cognitive and affective aspects of tobacco risk perceptions. Items will assess perceived risk of health harm from ONPs, perceived risk of addiction from ONPs, worry about harm, and worry about addiction. The items are on a 1-7 response scale, have excellent reliability, and are averaged to create an overall score.

  • ONP Perceptions Relative to Other Products1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    We will also capture perceived harm and addictiveness of ONPs relative to cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes using valid items on a 1-5 response scale.

  • ONP Intentions1 day (Single Time Point: During Exposure)

    We will assess curiosity, interest, and likelihood of using ONPs post-exposure. These are valid predictors of future use of novel tobacco and nicotine products among never users. Items are on a 1-7 scale, have excellent reliability, and are combined to create an overall ONP intentions score.