# Effectiveness of a smoking cessation algorithm integrated into HIV primary care

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $97,064

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) aged 18-24 disproportionately use tobacco with half of those
individuals also using some form of cannabis. While the exact amount of PLWH aged 18-24
who co-use tobacco and cannabis is unknown, the amount of co-users is only expected to
increase due to changing cannabis legislation and increasing availability and popularity of
vaping both tobacco and cannabis products. Unfortunately, these changes have the potential to
have a profound impact on the morbidity of PLWH aged 18-24. Tobacco alone is known to be
detrimental to lung health and while cannabis has been shown to have similar physiologic
effects on lung health as tobacco, the combined effects of tobacco and cannabis and
specifically for those who are vaping are less well studied among PLWH. Furthermore, among
individuals who are attempting tobacco cessation, cannabis use has been shown to lead to
difficulties with tobacco cessation and even tobacco re-initiation. Use of a decisional algorithm
tool that aids providers in prescribing pharmacotherapy for tobacco cessation during routine
clinical care is one promising strategy for tobacco cessation. While the parent study of this
supplement seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of this decisional tool in tobacco cessation
among PLWH engaged in care at three clinical sites (University of Washington, University of
Alabama at Birmingham, Fenway Community Health Center), the purpose of this supplemental
proposal is to understand how tobacco-cannabis co-use affects tobacco cessation in PLWH
aged 18-24 who were randomized to receive the decisional algorithm tool. Focus groups and
in-depth interviews will be used to examine patient and provider attitudes about tobacco
cessation modalities and cannabis’ effects on cessation. Additionally, a secondary analysis
from specific aim 1 of the parent study will be performed on PLWH aged 18-24. Primary
outcomes will include an evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of the algorithm tool and a
comparison of the point prevalence abstinence and cannabis frequency at 6 months between
tobacco and cannabis co-users and tobacco-only users. Findings from this study will help
inform the next iteration of the algorithm by providing specific information on PLWH aged 18-24
who co-use tobacco and cannabis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10163034
- **Project number:** 3R01DA044112-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Heidi M. Crane
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $97,064
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-30 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10163034

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10163034, Effectiveness of a smoking cessation algorithm integrated into HIV primary care (3R01DA044112-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10163034. Licensed CC0.

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