Smoking Cessation in Workplaces in Hong Kong [Phase II]

Assessing the Corporate Environment in Promoting Tobacco Control and Evaluation of a Smoking Cessation Programme in Workplaces in Hong Kong

This study has the following objectives:

1. To examine the employers'/managerial staff's knowledge, attitudes and practices in promoting smoking cessation in workplace.
2. To evaluate the smoking behaviours of participants before and after attending a smoking cessation intervention.

Study design In Phase I of this study, a large scale cross-sectional survey will be sent to 3000 corporations in Hong Kong. The questionnaire will examine the employers' knowledge, attitudes and practices in promoting smoking cessation in the workplace.

In Phase II, a longitudinal study will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention offered by the Department of Psychology, the University of Hong Kong. A total of 600 smokers from corporations will be recruited and interviewed before the intervention at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-, 4-, 12-, 26- and 52-week post-intervention follow-ups, in an attempt to evaluate their smoking behaviours, knowledge on smoking and satisfaction of the smoking cessation services. Self-reported quitters (did not smoke in the past 7 days) will be invited to participate in the bio-chemical validation by assessing their exhaled carbon monoxide level and the saliva cotinine level.

Process evaluation: Qualitative interviews, including in-depth interviews and/or focus group will be conducted within 1 month after 12-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above
• Cantonese speaker and able to read in Chinese characters
• Smoke at least one cigarette per day
• Stay at Hong Kong during the intervention and follow-up periods (12 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smokers who are psychologically or physically unable to communicate
• Smokers who are currently following other smoking cessation programme(s)
• Smokers with diagnosed psychiatric illnesses