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Observational Study of Vape Use Among Younger & Older Smokers

This observational study is looking at how people use cigarettes and vapes (ENDS - Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems) and how this changes over time. Researchers want to understand the differences in vaping habits between younger adults (ages 21-34) and older adults (ages 35-65) who smoke cigarettes and also vape or have tried vaping. The study will ask about your vaping devices, preferences, and how often you use them. You can join if you are between 21 and 65 years old, smoke at least 5 cigarettes a week, and have vaped at least once in the last six months or are currently vaping. The study aims to enroll 100 participants.

Study design
This is an observational study that plans to include 100 participants, split between younger and older adult smokers who also vape.
What's involved
You will be asked to complete a digital diary using a mobile app once a week for five months. You will also answer questions about your vape use and beliefs about vaping at three different times over 5-6 months.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your vape use and risk beliefs will be measured at 5-6 months.

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NCT07214168

Vape Use Among Younger & Older Smokers

Active, Not Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 21–65Observational
Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
~100 participants
Updated 2026-06-15 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Digital Diary (Mobile App)
Measured over 1 time per week for 5 months (Between Sessions)
+5 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Smoking Cigarette
Smoking Behaviors
Vaping
Vaping Behaviors

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SmokingVaping

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Study leadership

  • Angela Aherrera, DrPH, MPH · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pennsylvania
  • Andrew Strasser, Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pennsylvania

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Male and female cigarette smokers who are between 21 and 65 years of age.
Self-report having vaped at least once in the last six months (i.e. tried vaping) or are currently vaping.
Self-report smoking at least 5 filtered cigarettes per week for at least the last 12 months.
Not currently undergoing smoking cessation treatment or planning to quit prior to enrollment in the study.
Able to attend 3 in-person visits in the Philadelphia area.
Willing to smoke a cigarette in a ventilated smoking laboratory at each in-person visit.
Capable of giving informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the combined consent and HIPAA form.
Able to communicate fluently in English (i.e., speaking, writing, and reading).

Exclusion

Use of any nicotine containing products other than cigarettes or ENDS. Participants reporting isolated use of other nicotine containing products less than 5 times per month are eligible to participate.
History of substance abuse (other than nicotine) in the past 12 months and/or currently receiving medical treatment for substance abuse. Attendance at alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous meetings will not be considered medical treatment for the purposes of this protocol.
Current alcohol consumption that exceeds 25 standard drinks/week.
Women, including all individuals assigned as female at birth, who are pregnant, breast feeding, or planning a pregnancy over the duration of the study period.
Any psychiatric disorder that (as determined by the Principal Investigator) would interfere with study participation
Serious or unstable medical condition. Applicable conditions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Principal Investigator.
Past, current, anticipated, or pending enrollment in another research program over the study period that could potentially impact participant safety, study data, and/or the study design as determined by the Principal Investigator.
Any circumstance, medical condition, illness, disorder, adverse event (AE), or medication that could compromise participant safety or significantly impact study performance as determined by the Principal Investigator. Participants may be withdrawn for any of the aforementioned reasons at any point throughout the study.
Significant non-compliance with the protocol and/or study design as determined by the Principal Investigator. Participants may be withdrawn at any point throughout the study.

What this trial measures

  • Digital Diary (Mobile App)1 time per week for 5 months (Between Sessions)

    Participants will be asked to create an account for a mobile application that will serve as a digital diary to track any potential changes in tobacco product use, specifically ENDS and cigarette use, frequency of use for both products, and reasons for this change. The mobile app will ask the participant on a weekly basis whether there was any change to smoking and vaping habits from the past week. Collection of weekly data will provide granularity and a better understanding of the nuanced differences in ENDS use according to age group over the course of the 12-month enrollment period.

  • ENDS Use (Open Ended Response)5-6 months (at three time points)

    To identify the factors that impact ENDS use, participants will be asked to provide personal reasons to start vaping or try new ENDS products, continue vaping, or quit vaping.

  • ENDS Risk Beliefs5-6 months (at three time points)

    Participants will be asked questions adapted to ENDS use about their product perceptions, including measures of risk beliefs.

  • ENDS Perceived Health Risksbaseline

    Participants will be asked questions adapted to ENDS use about their product perceptions, including measures of perceived health risks.

  • ENDS Attitudes & Intentions5-6 months (at three time points)

    Participants will be asked to report on attitudes and intentions towards using ENDS, and social norms (the number of friends/family who smoke and/or vape and what friends/family behaviors/beliefs are on products; what the participants' beliefs about others approval of products are).

  • ENDS Personal Experience5-6 months (at three time points)

    Participants will be asked about personal experiences with ENDS use (physical sensation, experienced effects, ability to satisfy cravings, product problems, convenience of use, cost, regulation).