RCT for Evaluation of Online Social Networking Intervention in Smoking Cessations

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Health Behavior; Self Efficacy
• Interventions: Behavioral: Basic health education messages; Behavioral: WeChat interactive peer support group

• Registration Number: NCT03387800
• Lead Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

The proposed RCT evaluates the efficacy of the aforementioned novel 2-month online smoking cessation intervention in increasing 7-day point prevalence quit rate over a 6-month follow-up period among Chinese adult smokers in Hong Kong.

Detailed Description

Aims and hypothesis: The proposed RCT evaluates the efficacy of the aforementioned novel 2-month online smoking cessation intervention in increasing 7-day point prevalence quit rate over a 6-month follow-up period among Chinese adult smokers in Hong Kong. It is hypothesized that the quit rate of the intervention group would be higher than that of the control group at 6 month follow up (i.e. one-sided hypothesis).

Design and subjects: The RCT study will randomize participants into the intervention group or the control group. Prior to randomization, a baseline telephone survey will be conducted. Phone interviews will be conducted to evaluate the outcomes at Months 3 and 6 after completion of the intervention. Interviewers will be blinded from the randomization status. The inclusion criteria are: i) current smokers who have smoked at least one cigarette in the past seven days prior to the baseline survey, ii) age 18 years old or above, iii) able to communicate in Chinese (Cantonese), iv) having access to a smart phone or mobile electronic devices and social networking media (WeChat), v) willing to be followed up (Months 3 and 6), vi) should own a smart phone or a similar device.

Study instruments: Structured questionnaires.

Interventions: The 2-month intervention includes i) interactive online support groups and ii) immediate preventive 'SOS' cue to action messages to be sent to fellow support group members in need via WeChat. Besides, basic health education messages will be sent to both the intervention and the control groups.

Main outcome measures: self-reported 7-day point prevalence (pp) quit rate of smokers at 6 months post end-of-intervention.

Data analysis and expected results: Baseline characteristics between the two groups will be compared using t-test and chi-square test as appropriate. To evaluate efficacy in terms of the primary outcome, absolute risk reduction (ARR), relative risk reduction (RRR) and number needed to treat (NNT) at Months 3 and 6 and their 95% confidence intervals will be derived. Mixed effects models will be used to compare the differential changes on the outcome variables across the time points Months 0, 3 and 6 between the two study arms with adjustment for potential confounding variables. Significance differences in smoking cessation will be found among the two groups.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-08-01
• Primary Completion: 2017-07-31
• Status Verified: 2017-12
• Study First Submitted: 2017-12-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-12-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-12-22
• Study First Posted: 2018-01-02
• Last Update Posted: 2018-01-02
• Study Completion: 2018-01-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 408

Inclusion Criteria

• Current smokers who have smoked at least one cigarette in the past seven days prior to the baseline survey
• Age 18 years old or above
• Able to communicate in Chinese (Cantonese)
• Having access to a smart phone or mobile electronic devices and social networking media (WeChat), v) willing to be followed up (Months 3 and 6)
• Should own a smart phone or a similar device

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Exclusion Criteria

• Physically or mentally unfit
• Having participated in smoking cessation programs (last six months)

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Basic health education messages	Basic health education messages	Members of the control group will receive health education messages that will also be sent to the intervention group through WeChat. The messages include topics on physical and psychological aspects of perceived severity of smoking and perceived benefits of smoking cessation, and tips/skills on resisting situational temptations that may lead to relapse.
WeChat interactive peer support group	Basic health education messages	Participants will be grouped together by the researcher to form closed online peer support groups (with group names they choose). Activities on the WeChat groups serve two functions: i) It enhances social support among peer members toward smoking cessation. ii) The online support group also enhances the participants' positive affect.
WeChat interactive peer support group	WeChat interactive peer support group	Participants will be grouped together by the researcher to form closed online peer support groups (with group names they choose). Activities on the WeChat groups serve two functions: i) It enhances social support among peer members toward smoking cessation. ii) The online support group also enhances the participants' positive affect.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-reported 7-day point prevalence (pp) quit rate	6 months	Self-reported 7-day point prevalence (pp) quit rate of smokers at 6 months post end-of-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Attitude Towards Smoking Scale score	6 months	Attitude Towards Smoking Scale score as compared to that of the baseline at 6 months post end-of-intervention. The total score is ranged from 8 to 56. The higher values represents a better outcome.
Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire score	6 months	Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire score as compared to that of the baseline at 6 months post end-of-intervention. The total score is ranged from 12 to 60. The higher values represents a better outcome.
Subjective Norms Scale score	6 months	Subjective Norms Scale score as compared to that of the baseline at 6 months post end-of-intervention. The total score is 6 to 30. The higher value represents a better outcome.
Number of cigarettes consumed per day as compared to that of the baseline	6 months	Number of cigarettes consumed per day as compared to that of the baseline at 6 months post end-of-intervention
Positive and Negative Affect Scale score	6 months	Positive and Negative Affect Scale score as compared to that of the baseline at 6 months post end-of-intervention. Positive and Negative Affect Scale is consisted of two subscales, i.e. Positive Affect Scale (total score is ranged from 10 to 50, the higher value represents a better outcome) and Negative Affect Scale (total score is ranged from 10 to 50, the higher value represents a worse outcome). Two subscales will not be combined to compute a total score.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre for Health Behaviours Research, the Chinese University of Hong Kong; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong