Developing a Community Support Program to Help People Quit Smoking.

Summary

Brief Summary What is the purpose of this research? The goal of this study is to test a new method to help informal workers in Thailand quit smoking. The investigators seek to determine if a community-based system using digital tools (such as the Line app) is more effective than the standard care provided by local health centers.

How will the research happen?

The investigators will divide participants into two groups:

Intervention Group: This group will receive a new support system. Trained village health volunteers (VHVs) will offer brief advice and support. Participants will also receive messages and counseling through the Line application and a telephone "Quitline" (1600).

Comparison Group: This group will receive the standard care normally provided at local health centers.

The study takes place in Saraburi, Thailand, and lasts for approximately 3 months.

Who can take part?

The study team is seeking individuals who:

Are between 18 and 60 years old.

Work in jobs without formal contracts (informal workers), such as street vendors or farmers.

Currently smoke cigarettes.

Own a smartphone with internet access.

What are the research questions?

The investigators will measure four primary outcomes after 3 months to evaluate the effectiveness of the new system:

The number of smokers who received sufficient information to decide to quit.

The number of participants who intend to quit smoking.

The number of participants who successfully quit smoking (confirmed by a breath test).

The cost and value of the program compared to the health benefits gained.

Conditions

• Smoking Cessation

Interventions

OTHER

Smoking cessation in communities

A multi-component community-based intervention specifically designed for informal workers. The system utilizes "Smoking cessation in communities" as its core approach, featuring three primary pillars: Task Redistribution: Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) serve as the frontline for screening and initial brief advice within households. Digital Health Integration: Utilizing the Line Application for proactive monitoring, interactive two-way communication, and "Digital Education Prescriptions" tailored to each participant's stage of change. Integrated Behavioral Therapy: Delivery of evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) via virtual platforms and community outreach to overcome accessibility barriers.

OTHER

Standard Care for Smoking Cessation

Routine smoking cessation services are provided at sub-district health promotion hospitals according to national guidelines. This includes brief advice and potential referral to hospital clinics during patient visits, without the active community-based screening, digital follow-up via Line App, or specific herbal therapy provided in the intervention arm.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Research Council of Thailand

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• Mahidol University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Surintorn Kalampakorn · Department of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-09

Primary Completion

2026-04-30

Completion

2026-05-15

Countries

• Thailand

Study Locations