Semi-personalized IM Smoking Cessation Interventions

Semi-personalized Smoking Cessation Interventions for Adult Smokers Recruited at Smoking Hotspots: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Text messaging can provide smokers with quitting methods, information on available smoking cessation (SC) services and social support. This kind of intervention was proven to be effective for smoking cessation. Instant messaging (IM), by sending text and pictures, could provide users with better instantaneous and inexpensive support in their time of need. However, IM intervention is understudied in smoking cessation or other health-related areas to our knowledge, its approaches and efficacy warrant further investigation. This study aims to assess the effect of the combined intervention (nicotine replacement therapy sampling, active referral, and brief advice plus a supportive semi-personalized instant messaging advice) on smoking cessation and to assess the effect of the above interventions on secondary outcomes, including quit intention and attempts, smoking reduction, level of nicotine dependence, use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and SC services.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 18 years or above and smoked at least 1 cigarette daily;
2. Hong Kong residents able to read and speak Cantonese;
3. Exhaled carbon monoxide of 4 ppm or above, assessed by a Smokerlyzer;
4. Using a cell phone with instant messaging tool (e.g. WhatsApp, WeChat);
5. Able to use instant messaging tool (e.g. WhatsApp, WeChat) for communication;

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have psychiatric/ psychological diseases or regular psychotropic medications; and
2. Using SC medication, NRT, other SC services or projects.