Studying Flavors and Cooling Agents in Oral Nicotine Pouches to Understand User Preferences

Study Summary

This clinical trial studies how the flavors and synthetic coolant properties in oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) compare to one another and how these characteristics are perceived by users. ONPs are placed between the gum and lip, and the nicotine is absorbed in the mouth. They have a strong potential for harm reduction if smokers can switch to using them, and they are growing in popularity. One factor that could be contributing to the increase in popularity is the wide range of flavors, including mint or menthol. With recent flavor restriction policies that have gone into effect in certain areas of the United States, ONPs are now including synthetic cooling agents (WS-3) in place of the flavors. They provide a cooling sensation, but do not have a characterizing flavor, like mint or menthol, allowing them to be sold where flavor restriction policies are in place. Learning more about the flavors and cooling properties in ONPs and user preferences may help researchers guide future ONP regulation and understand how these characteristics may be used as a potential harm reduction or quit smoking tool.

Primary Outcome

The modified Cigarette Evaluation Questionnaire (mCEQ) will assess subjective appeal. The 11-item mCEQ includes five subscales: Satisfaction, Psychological Reward, Aversion, Enjoyment, and Craving Reduction. Individual items are rated from 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely likely) and are averaged to create each subscale also ranging from 1 to 7. Higher values indicate greater levels of satisfaction, reward, aversion, enjoyment, and craving reduction.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• OTHER Questionnaire Administration
• PROCEDURE Carbon Monoxide Measurement
• DRUG Nicotine Oral Pouch
• DRUG Smoke usual brand cigarette

Study Locations (1)