The University of Hong Kong
Tsu Tsun Luk
Most smokers return to smoking (relapse) after making a quit attempt, but evidence of effective intervention to prevent relapse is scarce. Taking advantage of recent advances in mobile technologies, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile chat messaging-based relapse prevention intervention in promoting successful quitting in people who recently quit smoking (recent abstainers) using a randomised controlled trial design.
Smoking Cessation
Standard smoking cessation treatment
Personalised chat messaging
SMS text messaging
Not Applicable
Most smokers who made quit attempts and achieved short-term abstinence return to smoking (relapse) over time, even when aided by effective smoking cessation treatment. Since relapse mostly occurred in the first 4 weeks of abstinence, relapse prevention in the early phase of abstinence could potentially boost long-term abstinence. Several behavioural interventions for smoking relapse prevention have been proposed and tested in RCTs. Yet, a 2019 Cochrane review did not find traditional approaches, including self-help materials, telephone counselling and group therapy, effective in increasing long-term abstinence at 6 months or longer. The widespread use of mobile devices has provided a highly accessible and scalable means for novel behavioural interventions for smoking cessation. A formative qualitative study in current smokers conducted by the investigators showed that mobile chat messaging is a feasible and acceptable platform for delivering smoking cessation support. A subsequent cluster randomised controlled trial on 1148 smokers found that mobile chat messaging combined with brief intervention was effective in increasing biochemically validated abstinence at 6 months. Nonetheless, whether mobile chat messaging could prevent relapse in recent abstainers has remained untested. The investigators did a pilot trial to confirm the feasibility and acceptability of mobile chat messaging for relapse prevention in recent abstainers. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile chat messaging relapse prevention intervention in promoting abstinence in recent abstainers.}}
Study Type : | Interventional |
Estimated Enrollment : | 586 participants |
Masking : | Single |
Primary Purpose : | Treatment |
Official Title : | Effectiveness of Mobile Chat Messaging for Preventing Relapse in Smokers Who Have Recently Quit Smoking: a Randomised Controlled Trial |
Actual Study Start Date : | March 14, 2023 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | October 31, 2024 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | January 31, 2025 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Mobile chat messaging Standard smoking cessation treatment + Personalised chat messaging |
Behavioral: Standard smoking cessation treatment Behavioral: Personalised chat messaging |
Active Comparator: SMS messaging Standard smoking cessation treatment + Regular SMS text messaging generic information about the harms of smoking and the benefits of quitting |
Behavioral: Standard smoking cessation treatment Behavioral: SMS text messaging |
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Accepts Healthy Volunteers |
Want to participate in this study, select a site at your convenience, send yourself email to get contact details and prescreening steps.
Recruiting
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation
Hong Kong, Hong Kong,
Recruiting
United Christian Nethersole Community Health Service Smoking Cessation Programme
Hong Kong, Hong Kong,