Personalized Support Using Instant Messaging Applications to Increase Smoking Cessation in Smokers Proactively Recruited From Smoking Hotspots in Hong Kong: a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Smoking Cessation
- Sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Enrollment
- 696
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Biochemically-validated abstinence at 6-month
- Last Updated
- 6 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to assess the effect of personalized support using instant messaging application on smoking cessation in smokers proactively recruited from smoking hotspots in Hong Kong.
Detailed Description
Detailed Description: With the advancement of information communication technologies (ICTs), instant messaging applications (IM Apps, e.g. WhatsApp and WeChat) can be used for providing synchronous, personalized, interactive interventions for health promotion. This study proposes to apply IM Apps for enhancing our tested brief smoking cessation (SC) intervention model from AWARD to e-AWARD (AWARD: Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer, Do-it-again,) without medications to increase SC in smokers proactively recruited in smoking hotspots in Hong Kong. Such smokers are the majority and have low quit rate. IM Apps allows trained SC advisors to proactively deliver personalized SC advices, response to smokers' needs promptly, and provide psychosocial support. No similar trials are found in PubMed, Cochrane Library and trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov \& ISRCTN) (except the pilot trial of this study). The aims of this study are as follows: 1. To assess the main effect of the personalized support using instant messaging applications (Intervention) vs. Control group on biochemical validated smoking abstinence at 6-month and 12-month. 2. To assess the effects on self-reported past 7-day abstinence, 24-week continuous abstinence, smoking reduction, self-efficacy of quitting, intention to quit, quit attempts and SC medications and services use at 6-month and 12-month. 3. To identify the mediators, which can inform mechanisms of the intervention on SC. 4. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the above interventions. 5. To understand the effects subjects' experience of IM support on SC using a qualitative study approach.
Investigators
Dr. Wang Man-Ping
Assistant Professor
The University of Hong Kong
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Adult smokers aged 18+ who smoke cigarette(s) daily.
- •Exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) level of 4ppm or above.
- •Having smartphones with IM Apps (WhatsApp) and have experience in using.
- •Hong Kong residents able to read and communicate in Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua).
Exclusion Criteria
- •Smokers who have psychiatric/psychological diseases or are on regular psychotropic medications.
- •Smokers who are using SC medication, NRT, other SC services or projects.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Biochemically-validated abstinence at 6-month
Time Frame: 6-month after baseline
Defined as exhaled carbon monoxide \<4ppm
Biochemically-validated abstinence at 12-month
Time Frame: 12-month after baseline
Defined as exhaled carbon monoxide \<4ppm
Secondary Outcomes
- Self-reported past 7-day abstinence(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Smoking reduction(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Smoking cessation medication use(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Self-reported 24-week continuous abstinence(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Smocking cessation services use(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Perceived importance, confidence and difficulties of quitting(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Intention to quit(6-month and 12-month after baseline)
- Quit attempts(6-month and 12-month after baseline)