Smoking remains a significant contributor to preventable cancer-related deaths, with current cessation interventions demonstrating limited efficacy. This study proposes to assess the efficacy of an innovative smoking cessation intervention that integrates approach bias retraining (ABR) with standard smoking cessation treatment. Previous research has shown promising outcomes in short-term abstinence rates for the proposed treatment, and this study aims to evaluate its long-term efficacy over a six-month period, with a focus on diverse populations. The proposed research builds upon a solid foundation of previous studies, including a randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institute...

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Smoking remains a significant contributor to preventable cancer-related deaths, with current cessation interventions demonstrating limited efficacy. This study proposes to assess the efficacy of an innovative smoking cessation intervention that integrates approach bias retraining (ABR) with standard smoking cessation treatment. Previous research has shown promising outcomes in short-term abstinence rates for the proposed treatment, and this study aims to evaluate its long-term efficacy over a six-month period, with a focus on diverse populations. The proposed research builds upon a solid foundation of previous studies, including a randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which demonstrated significantly higher short-term abstinence rates when ABR was integrated into standard smoking cessation treatment compared to a control treatment. Building on this success, the current study seeks to expand the scope by conducting a fully powered randomized controlled trial with a larger and more diverse sample, extended follow-up period, and integrate ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) to capture real-time data on smoking behaviors and psychological factors. Outcomes include long-term (six-month) abstinence as well as time to first smoking lapse and time to smoking relapse. Additionally, the study will investigate potential mechanisms of action using in-person assessments and explore demographic and behavioral factors as potential moderators of intervention efficacy. Findings from this research have the potential to significantly impact cancer prevention efforts by providing evidence-based strategies to support smoking cessation and reduce smoking-related risks, particularly among underserved and diverse populations. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying addiction and effective cessation strategies, this study contributes to the broader goal of reducing the burden of cancer and improving public health outcomes.

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