Chat-based instant messaging support combined with brief smoking cessation interventions for Chinese community smokers in Hong Kong: Rationale and study protocol for a pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled...
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BACKGROUND Novel approaches to engage community smokers in smoking cessation are needed as smokers typically lack motivation to quit or use evidence based tobacco dependence treatment Mobile instant messaging apps e g WhatsApp Facebook Messenger are widely used but under studied as a mobile health modality for delivering smoking cessation support This paper presents the rationale and study design of a trial which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a chat based intervention using mobile instant messaging combined with brief interventions for community smokers METHODS This is a two arm parallel accessor blinded pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial on an estimated 1172 daily cigarette smokers aged 18 years proactively recruited from 68 community sites cluster throughout Hong Kong Subjects in intervention group received three months of chat based instant messaging support guided by acceptance and commitment therapy and other behavioural change techniques integrated with brief advice and active referral to a smoking cessation service using the AWARD Ask Warn Advise Refer Do it again intervention model Control group received brief advice to quit plus a self help booklet at baseline Outcomes were assessed at 1 2 3 and 6 month after baseline The primary outcome is abstinence validated by exhaled carbon monoxide Under4 ppm and salivary cotinine Under10 ng mL at 6 month after baseline Primary analyses will be based on intention to treat COMMENTS This is the first trial examining the effectiveness of a chat based cessation support programme combined with brief interventions in promoting abstinence The intervention model can be adapted for other behavioural change treatments and more advanced digital smoking cessation intervention