Study design for a proactive teachable moment tobacco treatment intervention among patients with pulmonary nodules

We developed Teachable Moment to Opt-Out of Tobacco (TeaM OUT) as a tobacco treatment intervention based on a foundation of a theoretical model of teachable moments, "naturally occurring life transitions or health events thought to motivate individuals to spontaneously adopt risk-reducing health behaviors". The TeaM OUT intervention combines a teachable moment for patients with newly detected incidental pulmonary nodules with a proactive interactive voice response (IVR) system to increase connections to evidence-based tobacco treatment interventions.

We will perform a convergent, nested observational mixed-methods study utilizing both randomized trial and observational methods to test the effectiveness and generalizability of the TeaM OUT intervention through three aims. AIM 1: Among patients recently diagnosed with a pulmonary nodule, we will utilize a pragmatic, stepped wedge randomized controlled design to evaluate the effectiveness of a proactive, teachable moment-based, tobacco treatment outreach intervention (TeaM OUT) on increasing engagement with tobacco treatment resources compared to Enhanced Usual Care. AIM 2: Using a longitudinal observational design, we will evaluate the association of receipt of the TeaM OUT intervention with seven-day point abstinence prevalence and quit motivation compared to Enhanced Usual Care. AIM 3: Qualitatively elicit perspectives from key stakeholders to inform acceptability and utility, implementation barriers and facilitators, and scalability of the TeaM OUT intervention.

We are hopeful that implementation of TeaM OUT will increase the number of patients who quit using cigarettes with subsequent improvements in their health.