Helping Smokers to Quit Via the Smoke-free Teen Contest 2011: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

Background The home is the primary source of SHS exposure. The scientific evidence shows that there is no risk-free level of exposure to SHS that stop smoking is the sole way to completely eliminate the risk of SHS exposure. Although research studies indicated that smoking bans in restaurants, bars, and workplaces can significantly reduce the level of SHS exposure, governments lack the authority to restrict smoking in homes. Therefore, parental cessation is a more effective means to reduce the SHS exposure.

Aim The aims are (1) to promote smoking cessation in the community and (2) assess the effect of different smoking cessation approaches through the Smoke-free Teen Contest. The specific objectives of the study are to test the effectiveness of different smoking cessation approaches on quit rate and change in smoking behaviours among smokers who are referred by Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH).

Methods The referred smokers were nominated by primary 1 to secondary 3 students who joined the Smoke-free Teen Contest organized by COSH. Two domains of outcome will be assessed: (1) the primary outcome is the self-reported 7-day point prevalence (pp) quit rate at 6 months and (2)the secondary outcomes included (i) biochemical validated quit rate at 6 months and (ii) rate of smoking reduction by at least of half and (iii) number of quit attempts at 6 months.

Procedure Smokers, who are referred by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH), were nominated by primary 1 to secondary 3 students joined Smoke-free Teen Contest organized by COSH. Those smokers will be randomized into two groups (Intervention group and Control group) using the clustered randomization method by school. After the clustered randomization, the oral consent of eligible subjects were obtained to the study through telephone interview. Intervention group will receive 1,2,3, 8-week and 6-month telephone follow-up after baseline, while control group will only receive 6-month telephone follow-up after baseline. Those participants who reported to have stopped smoking will be invited for biochemical validation of smoking status at 6-month follow-up.

Hypothesis We hypothesize that the intensive telephone counselling plus NRT treatment will lead to significant increases in rates of smoking cessation in the intervention groups than the control group.

Conditions

• Comparative Effectiveness Research

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Counseling group

The content for the brief counseling group adopts a AWARD approach including asking the smoking habit, warning about the health risks associated with smoking, advising the smokers to quit, referring to specialized service, and repeating the above message. Additional telephone follow-up counseling at 1, 2, 3 and 8-week will be made to the participants in this group.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sophia SC Chan, PhD · HKU

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-10-31

Primary Completion

2012-07-31

Completion

2012-10-31

Countries

• China