Benjamin Toll, PhD
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About
Biography
Dr. Benjamin Toll is a licensed clinical psychologist and a Professor, Adjunct in the Department of Psychiatry. He specializes in clinical research on the treatment of tobacco use disorders, alcohol use disorders, and improvement of health behaviors.
Dr. Toll has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, including multiple R01 grants from the National Cancer Institute, and he is an author of over 130 peer-reviewed publications relating to nicotine and tobacco research, including several clinical trials published in first tier medical (e.g., Journal of the National Cancer Institute) and psychology journals (e.g., Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology) and clinical practice guidelines and policy statements from international medical societies. He has served as an author for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) on a policy statement encouraging physicians to provide tobacco treatment for cancer patients, the American College of Chest Physician (ACCP) treatment guidelines for smoking cessation among lung cancer patients, and the American Thoracic Society's (ATS) clinical practice guideline for treatment of tobacco dependent adults. He also holds leadership positions in national associations relating to tobacco treatment research. Dr. Toll is a past Board Member for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), and a current member of the AACR Tobacco and Cancer Subcommittee.
Dr. Toll’s NCI funded research has focused on testing novel smoking cessation treatments and he has conducted numerous clinical trials in this regard. Many of his studies have investigated promotion of smoking cessation through novel message framing and motivational interventions, including those delivered via telephone and in person. Dr. Toll has tested several pharmacological and counseling interventions, and he also has expertise in the measurement of tobacco use and tobacco related syndromes (e.g., withdrawal, craving), and mediators and moderators of response to treatment. He has served as a reviewer for numerous peer-reviewed publications, including the Surgeon General’s Report (The Health Consequences of Smoking: 50 Years of Progress, Chapter: Cigarette Smoking and Adverse Health Outcomes in Cancer Patients and Survivors).
Appointments
Departments & Organizations
- ADVANCE Study
- Connecticut Mental Health Center
- Division of Substance Abuse
- Psychology Section
- Psychotherapy Development Center
- Smoking Cessation and Alcohol Treatment Research Clinic
- SPORE in Lung Cancer
- WHRY Pilot Project Program Investigators
- Women's Health Research at Yale
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- PhD
- Nova Southeastern University (2002)
- MS
- Nova Southeastern University (1999)
- BA
- Cornell University (1996)
Research
Overview
Dr. Toll’s primary research interest involves developing novel psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for tobacco use disorders. Current studies focus on message framing to promote smoking cessation. He has been working with the New York State Smokers' Quitline on studies testing gain-framed counseling (e.g., if you quit smoking you will live longer) and mediators and moderators of responses to gain-framed counseling. He has also been working on studies of naltrexone for minimization of post smoking cessation weight gain. In addition, Dr. Toll is involved in several studies of psychometrics, assessment, and methodological issues with addictive behaviors.
- “Promoting Tobacco and Cancer Control: Message Framing for Telephone Quitline Callers” This project will be a secondary analysis of our New York State Smokers’ Quitline data.
- “Smoking Cessation to Improve Survival Rates of Head and Neck Cancer Patients” This project is an 8-week, open label clinical trial comparing smoking cessation treatment with varenicline 2 mg to nicotine patch 21 mg in a sample of 30 patients who completed treatment for head and neck cancer.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Global Health; Psychiatry; Smoking Cessation
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Benjamin Toll's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Benjamin Toll's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Benjamin Toll is interested in exploring.
Lisa Fucito, PhD
Marney A. White, PhD, MS
Melissa R Schick, PhD
Nicole Elbertson, MEd, BS
Peter Salovey, PhD
Robert Makuch, PhD
19Publications
468Citations
Smoking Cessation
Publications
2024
Electronic nicotine delivery system flavors, devices, and brands used by adults in the United States who smoke and formerly smoked in 2022: Findings from the United States International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey
Gravely S, Smith T, Toll B, Ashley D, Driezen P, Levy D, Quah A, Fong G, Cummings K. Electronic nicotine delivery system flavors, devices, and brands used by adults in the United States who smoke and formerly smoked in 2022: Findings from the United States International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey. Preventive Medicine Reports 2024, 47: 102905. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2024.102905.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsElectronic nicotine delivery systemsUS adultsInternational Tobacco Control Four Country SmokingVaping SurveySmoking cigarettesHighest proportion of adultsNationally representative sampleSignificantly higher proportion of adultsProportion of adultsNicotine delivery systemsQuit smokingCountry SmokingRepresentative sampleSignificantly higher proportionENDS flavorsSmokingAdultsIce flavoursWeight dataVapingCigarettePrevalenceUnited StatesSurveyTank devicesA Pilot Study to Test the Feasibility of a Randomized Controlled Trial of E-cigarettes as Harm Reduction Tools Among People Who Smoke and Previously Failed to Quit With Pharmacotherapy
Smith T, Ferreira A, Wahlquist A, Cummings K, Rojewski A, McClure E, Toll B, Carpenter M. A Pilot Study to Test the Feasibility of a Randomized Controlled Trial of E-cigarettes as Harm Reduction Tools Among People Who Smoke and Previously Failed to Quit With Pharmacotherapy. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2024, ntae212. PMID: 39233579, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae212.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsRandomized controlled trialsE-cigarette groupE-cigarettesNRT groupPilot studyPoint prevalence abstinenceNicotine replacement therapyHarm reduction interventionsHarm reduction toolCombination nicotine replacement therapyTraditional pharmacotherapyTrial of e-cigarettesMean cigarettesReduction interventionsPrevalence abstinencePowered trialsControlled trialsEffect sizeNon-whiteElectronic diaryCigarette smokersReplacement therapyParticipantsStandard pharmacotherapyDaily diariesExpectations and Preferences for Digital Cessation Treatment: Multimethods Study Among Older Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes
Fahey M, Carpenter M, O'Neal R, Pebley K, Schick M, Ware E, Toll B, Dahne J. Expectations and Preferences for Digital Cessation Treatment: Multimethods Study Among Older Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes. Journal Of Medical Internet Research 2024, 26: e52919. PMID: 39196628, PMCID: PMC11391153, DOI: 10.2196/52919.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricPrescription of Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Hospitalized Tobacco Users
Nielsen E, Ware E, Heincelman M, Schreiner A, Lenert L, Toll B. Prescription of Nicotine Replacement Therapy for Hospitalized Tobacco Users. Southern Medical Journal 2024, 117: 517-520. PMID: 39094806, DOI: 10.14423/smj.0000000000001719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsNicotine replacement therapyPrescribed nicotine replacement therapyPrescription of nicotine replacement therapyNicotine replacement therapy prescriptionManagement of chronic conditionsHospitalized tobacco usersInitiate health behavior changeHealth behavior changeEmergency department visitsRate of prescriptionTobacco treatmentIncreased readmission ratesChronic conditionsHealth systemDepartment visitsRetrospective cohort studySmoking cessationTobacco usersInpatient admissionsReplacement therapyOutpatient settingCohort studyReadmission ratesSignificantly lower ratesCigarette smokingImplementation of an “opt-out” tobacco treatment program in six hospitals in South Carolina
Cummings K, Talbot V, Roberson A, Bliss A, Likins E, Brownstein N, Stansell S, Adams-Ludd D, Harris B, Louder D, McCutcheon E, Zebian R, Rojewski A, Toll B. Implementation of an “opt-out” tobacco treatment program in six hospitals in South Carolina. BMC Health Services Research 2024, 24: 741. PMID: 38886764, PMCID: PMC11184783, DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11205-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPost-discharge follow-up callsTobacco treatment programFollow-up callsEnhance careBasic careSmoking statusConsultation visitTobacco treatment specialistStop Smoking ServicesStop smoking medicationsAssess smoking statusResultsSmoking prevalenceSmoking ServicesMedical University of South CarolinaSmoking medicationsIntervention groupQuit ratesTreatment deliveryTreatment specialistsSurveyed patientsDaily smokersHigh caseloadsUniversity of South CarolinaHospital dischargeSouth CarolinaDevelopment of an Electronic Health Record Self-Referral Tool for Lung Cancer Screening: One-Group Posttest Study
Stang G, Tanner N, Hatch A, Godbolt J, Toll B, Rojewski A. Development of an Electronic Health Record Self-Referral Tool for Lung Cancer Screening: One-Group Posttest Study. JMIR Formative Research 2024, 8: e53159. PMID: 38865702, PMCID: PMC11208829, DOI: 10.2196/53159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricBarriers and facilitators to involvement in cancer education opportunities among South Carolina cancer care professionals: A cancer training and diversity, equity, and inclusion training needs assessment
Hatch A, Shungu N, Ford M, Toll B. Barriers and facilitators to involvement in cancer education opportunities among South Carolina cancer care professionals: A cancer training and diversity, equity, and inclusion training needs assessment. Journal Of The National Medical Association 2024, 116: 283-291. PMID: 38816266, DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2024.05.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHealthcare professionalsInductive content analysis approachCancer care professionalsNon-Hispanic whitesIdentified educational needsSocial risk factorsAttend educational programsContent analysis approachCases of cancerCancer trainingCancer careCare professionalsPerceived barriersHealth systemMental healthAnalyzed quantitative dataOptimal careTraining needs assessmentTraining needsEducation programsSouth CarolinaQualitative dataBusy schedulesRisk factorsSurvey instrumentVarenicline for E-Cigarette Cessation in Adults: A Preliminary Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial
Fucito L, Baldassarri S, Baker N, Palmer A, O'Malley S, Carpenter M, Krishnan-Sarin S, Gray K, Toll B. Varenicline for E-Cigarette Cessation in Adults: A Preliminary Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial. American Journal Of Preventive Medicine 2024, 67: 296-298. PMID: 38752949, PMCID: PMC11260542, DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.04.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricNicotine e-cigarettes: considerations for healthcare providers
Toll B, Smith T, King B. Nicotine e-cigarettes: considerations for healthcare providers. Nature Medicine 2024, 30: 1513-1514. PMID: 38627561, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02926-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricImplementation, enrollment, and engagement in an opt‐out telehealth pharmacist‐assisted tobacco treatment program for patients seen in oncology outpatient clinics
Cummings K, Toll B, Talbot V, Roberson A, Wilson D, Dunlap M, Ware E, Palmer A, Bliss A, Anokye V, Warren G. Implementation, enrollment, and engagement in an opt‐out telehealth pharmacist‐assisted tobacco treatment program for patients seen in oncology outpatient clinics. Cancer 2024, 130: 2482-2492. PMID: 38546445, PMCID: PMC11214603, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35291.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsTobacco treatment programOncology outpatient clinicQuit ratesDelivering smoking cessation treatmentSelf-reported quit ratesOutpatient clinicSmoking cessation counselingHollings Cancer CenterFollow-up surveyNicotine replacement medicationsTreatment programsSmoking cessation treatmentCessation counselingOncology clinicVisit clinicsCessation treatmentSmoking statusTelephone surveyCancer CenterReplacement medicationsRandom sampleAdult patientsFollow-upSmokingPatients
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity Clinical Research Committee, Connecticut Mental Health Center
CommitteesCommittee MemberDetails07/01/2008 - Presentactivity Yale College Fellowships for Research in Health Studies
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewerDetailsGrant review2009 - Present
News
News
- May 16, 2024
First U.S. Trial of Varenicline for E-cigarette Cessation Shows Positive Results
- June 30, 2021Source: Preventive Medicine Reports
Use and Perceptions of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Among Patients Attending Lung Cancer Screening Who Smoke
- February 07, 2019
Krishnan-Sarin, Toll elected to SRNT board
- May 01, 2017
Yale study: Chest physicians split on pros and cons of e-cigarettes
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