Mobile-based Positive Psychological Support for Smoking Cessation Via "Quit to Win" Contest 2021 (QTW 2021)

NCT ID: NCT04909320

Last Updated: 2022-08-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1094 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-12

Study Completion Date

2023-06-30

Brief Summary

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This study aims to explore the effectiveness of a combined intervention using brief cessation advice and personalized chat-based positive psychological support compared with the control group on current smokers who join the Quit to Win Contest.

Detailed Description

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Smoking is a leading cause of many diseases and deaths globally. Although Hong Kong has a relatively low overall smoking rate of 10.2% (in 2019), health and economic burdens due to smoking are still substantial. The practice of smoking might predispose smokers to COVID-19 infection and poor prognosis. Growing evidence has also suggested that smokers are at higher risk of developing serious respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms in the COVID-19 pandemic than non-smokers. Smoking cessation in the post-COVID-19 era is the key priority to meet the HKSAR Government's target of reducing smoking prevalence to 7.8% by 2025.

Mental health problems are commonly comorbid with smoking and related problems. Our population-based survey amidst the COVID-19 pandemic found current smokers were at higher risk of suffering from anxious symptoms (adjusted OR 1.84 95% CI 1.27, 2.67), depressive symptoms (adjusted OR 2.04 95% CI 1.40, 2.96), and stress symptoms (adjusted β 0.54 95% CI 0.26, 0.82) compared with non-smokers. We also observed mental health burden increased during the COVID-19 pandemic with approximately doubling of the prevalence of anxious symptoms (15.8 vs. 9.3) and depressive symptoms (14.8 vs. 6.3) compared with the pre-COVID-19 pandemic (2017). Mental health can be both precursors and consequences of smoking. Previous studies have suggested that depressive symptoms and low positive affect during and after SC attempts are associated with poor cessation outcomes. This implies that a combined intervention of behavioral and psychological SC intervention is needed, particularly under the circumstance of worsening mental health problems.

Therefore, our study aims to test the effectiveness of a combined intervention using brief cessation advice and personalized chat-based positive psychological support compared with the control group on current smokers who join the Quit to Win Contest.

Conditions

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Smoking Cessation

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Intervention group

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

AWARD advice

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Ask about smoking history; Warn about the high risk; Advise to quit; Refer smokers to smoking cessation services (with a referral card); Do it again

Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation

Intervention Type OTHER

The contents of the leaflet include (1) highlights of the absolute risk of death due to smoking; (2) the whole list of diseases caused by active and second-hand smoking; (3) ten horrible pictorial warnings of health consequences of smoking and second-hand smoking in one page to maximize the impacts; (4) benefits of SC and (5) simple messages to encourage participants to quit smoking and remind them to call the Department of Health SC hotline 183 3183.

Referral card

Intervention Type OTHER

The contents consist of brief information and highlights of existing SC services, contact methods, motivation information, and strong supporting messages or slogans.

Self-help smoking cessation booklet

Intervention Type OTHER

The contents include information about the benefits of quitting, smoking and diseases, methods to quit, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, declaration of quitting, etc.

Positive psychological support through 3-people group chat using instant messaging apps

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Each IM chat group will consist of a trained SC counselor (HKU staff), a peer supporter (former smoker), and a participant (smoker). The 3-month group chat-based intervention will consist of regular messages and real-time support through group chat. Regular messages will generally include goal setting, health warnings, abstinence support, positive psychological exercises, and encouragement and will be delivered in a tapering style. During the real-time chatting, SC counsellors and peer supporters will provide real-time chat-based support, and peer supporters will share their quitting experience as appropriate.

Control group

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

AWARD advice

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Ask about smoking history; Warn about the high risk; Advise to quit; Refer smokers to smoking cessation services (with a referral card); Do it again

Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation

Intervention Type OTHER

The contents of the leaflet include (1) highlights of the absolute risk of death due to smoking; (2) the whole list of diseases caused by active and second-hand smoking; (3) ten horrible pictorial warnings of health consequences of smoking and second-hand smoking in one page to maximize the impacts; (4) benefits of SC and (5) simple messages to encourage participants to quit smoking and remind them to call the Department of Health SC hotline 183 3183.

Referral card

Intervention Type OTHER

The contents consist of brief information and highlights of existing SC services, contact methods, motivation information, and strong supporting messages or slogans.

Self-help smoking cessation booklet

Intervention Type OTHER

The contents include information about the benefits of quitting, smoking and diseases, methods to quit, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, declaration of quitting, etc.

E-messages via SMS

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Regular e-messages via SMS at twice per month within 3 months (total 6).

Interventions

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AWARD advice

Ask about smoking history; Warn about the high risk; Advise to quit; Refer smokers to smoking cessation services (with a referral card); Do it again

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation

The contents of the leaflet include (1) highlights of the absolute risk of death due to smoking; (2) the whole list of diseases caused by active and second-hand smoking; (3) ten horrible pictorial warnings of health consequences of smoking and second-hand smoking in one page to maximize the impacts; (4) benefits of SC and (5) simple messages to encourage participants to quit smoking and remind them to call the Department of Health SC hotline 183 3183.

Intervention Type OTHER

Referral card

The contents consist of brief information and highlights of existing SC services, contact methods, motivation information, and strong supporting messages or slogans.

Intervention Type OTHER

Self-help smoking cessation booklet

The contents include information about the benefits of quitting, smoking and diseases, methods to quit, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, declaration of quitting, etc.

Intervention Type OTHER

Positive psychological support through 3-people group chat using instant messaging apps

Each IM chat group will consist of a trained SC counselor (HKU staff), a peer supporter (former smoker), and a participant (smoker). The 3-month group chat-based intervention will consist of regular messages and real-time support through group chat. Regular messages will generally include goal setting, health warnings, abstinence support, positive psychological exercises, and encouragement and will be delivered in a tapering style. During the real-time chatting, SC counsellors and peer supporters will provide real-time chat-based support, and peer supporters will share their quitting experience as appropriate.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

E-messages via SMS

Regular e-messages via SMS at twice per month within 3 months (total 6).

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above
* Smoke at least 1 tobacco stick (includes HTP) per day or use e-cigarette daily in the past 3-month
* Able to communicate in Chinese
* Saliva cotinine 30 ng/ml or above
* Intent to quit/reduce smoking
* Able to use the instant messaging tool (e.g., WhatsApp, WeChat) for communication

Exclusion Criteria

* Smokers who have communication barrier (either physically or cognitively)
* Smokers who are currently participating in other SC programmes or services
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Wang Man-Ping

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Man Ping Wang, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong

Locations

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Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH)

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Man Ping Wang, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+852 3917 6636

Ziqiu Guo, MMed

Role: CONTACT

+852 3917 6605

Facility Contacts

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Fung Wong

Role: primary

+852 2180 5186

References

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Guo Z, Luk TT, Weng X, Wu Y, Zhao S, Lai YK, Tak Cheung DY, Chai Tong HS, Yin Lai VW, Lam TH, Wang MP. Behavioral support by ex-smoking peers using instant messaging for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial. Chest. 2025 Sep 10:S0012-3692(25)05172-4. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2025.07.4110. Online ahead of print.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40939935 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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QTW 2021

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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