Building Capacity and Promoting Smoking Cessation in the Community Via "Quit to Win" Contest 2019

Summary

The present study will examine (1) effectiveness of a combined intervention of AWARD advice, active referral, instant messaging and optional cocktail intervention to increase abstinence using a sequential multiple assignment randomised trial (SMART) and (2) explore the use of CBPR model to build capacity and to engage community partners in taking on this important public health issue for sustainability in the community. In addition, a process evaluation will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the recruitment activity and how it is linked with the overall program outcomes.

Conditions

• Smoking Cessation

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Initial phase: personalized instant messaging (PIM)

intervention Group participants will receive three months of personalized interaction through IM Apps (e.g. WhatsApp, WeChat). Our counsellors will trigger the conversation and encourage the participants to set a quit day. A total of pre-set 26 messages will be sent with the schedule of once daily for 1 week (the week across the quit date), 3 times a week for 4 weeks (2 weeks each before and after the week with quit date) and once a week for remaining 7 weeks. These messages covered generic information about the benefits of quitting, methods to avoid/ manage craving or withdrawal symptoms, and encouragement to quit and use SC services. At the end of the initial phase (1-month), complete responders (quitters) will continue to receive PIM (subgroup C). Incomplete responders (smokers) will be randomized to continue PIM (subgroup B) or receive OCI (subgroup A).

BEHAVIORAL

Second phase: optional cocktail interventions (OCI)

For incomplete respondents (subgroup A) randomized to OCI, the available intervention options include multi-media messages, active referral plus financial incentive, phone counseling, family/peer support and medications (NRT). Participants will be guided by cessation counsellors at 1-month follow-up telephone survey to choose any combination of OCI based on their preference. If OCI participants cannot be followed up at 1-month, they will receive multi-media messages by default.

BEHAVIORAL

Initial phase: regular instant messaging (RIM)

Participants enrolled in the Control Group will receive regular messages via IM services (e.g. WhatsApp, WeChat) since initial contact and until 3-month after baseline with a tapering schedule: 1) Baseline to 4-week (1-month): 2 times/ week (8 in total); 2) 4-week to 12-week (2- \& 3-month): 1 time/week (8 in total). SC messages will generally include benefits of SC, encouragement on abstinence and use of SC services, tips on avoiding/ handling craving and reminder of participating in telephone follow-up. A reminder to participate in the telephone follow-up will also be sent at 1-, 2-, 3- and 6-month, making up a total of 20 messages. At the end of the initial phase (1-month), complete responders (quitters) will continue to receive RIM (subgroup F). Incomplete responders (smokers) will be second randomized to continue RIM (subgroup E) or receive PIM (subgroup D). Those who are unable to follow up at 1-month will be considered as nonresponsive to the intervention.

BEHAVIORAL

Second phase: personalized instant messaging (PIM)

For incomplete responders allocated to PIM (subgroup D), participants will receive the same intervention as the Group A delivered at the initial stage. Participants will receive two months of personalized interaction through IM application. Please refer to Intervention Group "Initial phase: personalized instant messaging (PIM)" for details.

BEHAVIORAL

AWARD advice

Ask about smoking history, Warn about the high risk of smoking, Advise to quit as soon as possible, Refer to the smoking cessation services, and Do it again (if the smokers refused to set quit date).

BEHAVIORAL

Warning leaflet

The 2-sided color printed A4 leaflet, which systematically covers the most important messages to motivate smoking cessation

BEHAVIORAL

Referral card

The 3-folded "Smoking Cessation Services" card consists of brief information and highlights of existing smoking cessation services, contact methods, motivation information and strong supporting messages or slogans

BEHAVIORAL

COSH booklet

A general smoking cessation self-help booklet

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of Hong Kong

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Man Ping Wang, PhD · The University of Hong Kong

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-06-21

Primary Completion

2020-06-30

Completion

2021-06-30

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations