Laboratory Evaluation of a Virtual Reality Physical Activity Intervention on Nicotine Craving

Nicotine use remains a globally significant contributor to preventable illness and premature death. the prevalence of vaping has witnessed a significant increase in recent years, especially among youth in the United States, with a considerable rise from individuals who previously did not smoke. Although vaping is a relatively new method for tobacco use, research is starting to accumulate on its negative health effects, including obstructing airways, increasing heart rate, increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, exacerbating symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and decreasing lung function. Vaping cessation continues to be a primary public health initiative, and to date, little research has been done to identify effective strategies to help people quit vaping.

Physical activity is one strategy that has been explored to help people quit smoking by reducing cravings, possibly through managing tobacco withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and restlessness. It has also been shown to improve mood. Even short bouts (e.g., 10 minutes) of physical activity have been shown to decrease cigarette cravings. In contrast, other studies show that physical activity does not improve smoking abstinence. One reason could be due to poor compliance, as many studies use traditional exercises such as treadmill walking, jogging, and indoor cycling. Furthermore, no studies to date have examined the impact of physical activity on craving and abstinence among people who vape nicotine, and the patterns of use for vaping are considerably different from cigarette smoking.

Virtual reality-based physical activity (VRPA) has been shown to increase motivation, enjoyment, and flow (i.e., the psychological state of being fully immersed and focused in an activity) while providing a fun and engaging experience. Furthermore, VRPA has been shown to increase adherence to physical activity protocols such as in a rehabilitation setting, and participants also find it more reinforcing compared to standard exercise activities.

Thus, the purpose of this pilot proposal is to collect proof-of-concept data on whether VRPA impacts craving for people with moderate nicotine vaping dependence. Participants who are moderate to highly dependent on nicotine from vaping (N = 20) will complete three sessions where they engage in VRPA and determine whether craving and withdrawal decrease from pre- to post-workout. Participants will also complete a brief qualitative interview at the end of the third session to evaluate participant perspectives on their intentions to continue VRPA workouts and whether they think it would be supportive for nicotine vaping cessation.