Nicotine vaccines: will smokers take a shot at quitting?
BACKGROUND
A vaccine against nicotine may soon be available to smokers who want to quit. The vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies that bind to nicotine, thereby impeding nicotine from crossing the blood-brain barrier and exerting psychoactive effects. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate intentions to try a nicotine vaccine if one were to become available among a nationally representative sample of smokers. The secondary purpose was to assess whether information about genetic susceptibility to nicotine addiction had an effect on smokers' interest in receiving the vaccine.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty-seven adults were randomized to read one of two versions of a short description about the vaccine. One version framed addiction as genetically influenced, while the other framed it as environmentally influenced. Smokers were then asked about their intentions to use a nicotine vaccine if one were to become available in the future.


RESULTS
Across both groups, 53% indicated that they would be likely or very likely to try the vaccine. Using multivariate linear regression, the strongest predictors of vaccination intention were having a favorable attitude toward a nicotine vaccine (beta = .41) and having a favorable attitude toward vaccination in general (beta = .22). There were no significant effects of the framing conditions on intention to receive the vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
Intentions to try a nicotine vaccine as a cessation method are relatively high among smokers. If the vaccine becomes available, specific groups of smokers may be more interested than others; education and recruitment efforts could be targeted appropriately.
Leader
Amy E
AE
Center of Excellence in Cancer Communication Research, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, 3620 Walnut Street, 410, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. amy.leader@jefferson.edu
Lerman
Caryn
C
Cappella
Joseph N
JN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000276:immunology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
D014612:Vaccines; D009538:Nicotine