Development and Implementation of an Online Psychological Support Program for Tobacco Users

Summary

Introduction: Tobacco use is the most prevalent and preventable public health problem in the world, responsible for 8 million deaths worldwide annually.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop and implement a remote, asynchronous, eight-module psychoeducation programme (Tobacco Addiction Support System (TÜBSİS) = Tobacco Addiction Psychological Support Programme) based on mindfulness psychological intervention with a web-based, online platform-supported application for male and female individuals over the age of 18 with tobacco use. The TÜBSİS Programme, which is an individual intervention, was applied to male and female tobacco users at a university via a web platform.

Method: In this randomised controlled study, data collection from the participants in the intervention group was carried out through the web-based platform of the TÜBSİS Programme. Data collection from the participants in the control group was carried out via Google Forms and Google E-mail (Gmail). The participants were asked questions including the intervention variables three times in total, at the beginning, after two weeks and after four weeks. The participants in the intervention and control groups were asked about sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco use characteristics at baseline. Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) Model Change Question Form, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test and Informed Consent Form were applied to both groups at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the intervention study. Intervention Variable '4-week TÜBSİS Tobacco Addiction Psychoeducation Programme' and 'Control Variables' Sociodemographic Characteristics (Age, Gender, Education level, Student status (being a student or not and level of education), Regular employment status (present/absent), Marital status, Having children, Perceived monthly income level, Father's education level, Living environment), Tobacco Use Characteristics (Age at the time of first smoking attempt, Past (pre-survey) smoking cessation attempt and number of attempts). The primary outcomes evaluated completed-8 modules of follow-up during the TÜBSİS Programme are as follows: 'Stage of change according to the HAPA Model (pre-intender stage, intender stage, actor stage)', "7-day point prevalence smoking cessation attempt (i.e. not having smoked a puff of cigarette in the last 7 days)", "Daily cigarette consumption amount (number of cigarettes smoked in a typical day for daily smokers, number of days smoked in a month and number of cigarettes smoked in a typical smoking day for occasional smokers)". Secondary outcomes were 'Increase in Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale score' and 'Increase in Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test score'. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 25 software.

Keywords: tobacco use, mindfulness, web-based psychoeducation, Health Action Process Approach

Conditions

• Tobacco Addiction

Interventions

OTHER

TÜBSİS Web-based Psycho-education Programme

The theoretical infrastructure of the TÜBSİS Program, which consists of a total of 8 modules lasting 1 month, is supported by the integration of two different frameworks: Mindfulness Approach and HAPA Health Action Approach. While the progress process in the TÜBSİS Program was created with the HAPA Model, the module contents of it were created within the framework of the Mindfulness Approach. Each participant receives reminder emails during this asynchronous and distance learning process and can open each new module at least 3 days later. Participants in the intervention (as well as control group) were asked about sociodemographic and tobacco use characteristics at baseline. Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) Model Change Question Form, Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Fagerström Nicotine Dependence Test and Informed Consent Form were administered to the intervention group at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the intervention study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Ege University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gorkem YARARBAS, Prof. Dr. · Ege University, Institute on Drug Abuse, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science, Department of Drug Abuse

• Hur HASSOY, Prof. Dr. · Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-01-26

Primary Completion

2024-09-30

Completion

2025-04-24

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations