Original Paper
Mobile Phone Text Messaging for Tobacco Risk Communication among Young Adult Community College Students: Protocol and Baseline Overview for a Randomized Trial Alexander V. Prokhorov1, Georges E. Khalil1, Karen S. Calabro1, Tamara C. Machado1, Sophia C. Russel1, Katarzyna W. Czerniak1, Gabrielle C. Botello1, Minxing Chen1, Adriana Pérez2, Damon J. Vidrine3, Cheryl L. Perry2 Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 2 University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), School of Public Health in Austin, Austin, Texas 3 Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma city, Oklahoma. 1
Corresponding Author:
Alexander V. Prokhorov, MD, PhD Professor Department of Behavioral Science The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center 1155 Pressler St. Unit 1330 Houston, TX 77030 Phone: 1-713-563-2605 Fax: 1-713-745-4286 E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract
Background: Young adults in community college represent an underserved population susceptible to tobacco use. The use of mobile health (mHealth) text messaging may be an effective strategy for tobacco risk communication with diverse young adults. However, the message structure that is most capable of increasing perceived tobacco risk is still not known. Objective: The current research protocol outlines the rationale and design of Project Debunk, a randomized trial comparing the effects of different structures of text messages. Methods: The study is being conducted as a 6-month long randomized trial comparing eight arms, based on the combination of the three message structures delivered to young adults in a 2x2x2 study design: framing (gain-framed or loss-framed), depth (simple or complex), and appeal (emotional or rational). Participants were invited to participate from three community colleges in Houston from September 2016 through July 2017. Participants are randomized to one arm, and receive text messages in two separate campaigns. Each campaign consists of two text messages per day for 30 days (i.e., 60 messages). In addition to baseline assessment, perceived risk is assessed two months after the first campaign, and two months after the second campaign. We assessed perceived risk of using conventional products (e.g., combustible cigarettes) and new and emerging products (e.g., electronic cigarettes). Validity of message structures was assessed weekly for each campaign. A oneweek follow-up assessment was also conducted to understand immediate reactions from participants. Results: We completed data collection for the baseline survey on a rolling basis during this time, and assessed validity of the message structure after one week of messages. For the entire sample (n=636), the average age was 20.92 years (SD=2.52); about two-thirds were female, and most were black/African American (n=266/636; 41.2%) or white/Caucasian (n=239/636; 37.0%). After one week of receiving messages: (1) loss-framed messages were more likely to be perceived as presenting a loss than gain-framed messages (F=13.21, P
