Mindfulness-based Treatment to Prevent Smoking Relapse

Mindfulness-based Treatment to Prevent Smoking Relapse: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Background: Smoking causes a variety of health problems and causes burden to healthcare systems. Even when support is provided, local data suggest that around 50% of biochemically confirmed quitters resume smoking within 6 months of participating in a smoking cessation program. Mindfulness-based intervention is a promising option because accumulating evidence from randomized controlled trials support its use among smokers. Our team aims to determine if mindfulness-based interventions can prevent relapse in smokers who recently quit smoking. A pilot trial is needed to determine the feasibility of recruitment, randomisation and acceptability of the intervention in these patients Method: Forty participants, who just quitted smoking, will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to the 8week mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) program and to usual care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age ≥18 years
• self-reported smokers
• can speak and read Cantonese and Chinese
• willing to participate in at least 7 of the 8 sessions of the MBRP program

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy (they will have different motivations for quitting smoking)
• significant physical illness or severe cognitive impairment that prevents communication, such as blindness or severe hearing loss, because mindfulness exercise instructions are given verbally and reading materials are given out after each class
• history of psychotic disorders or symptoms, because MBRP is not confirmed safe or effective in this group of patients
• suicidal tendency as detected by PHQ-9 (see below)
• we will not exclude participants with mood disorders for the reasons stated in the introduction, but participants with drug changes for their mood disorders in the last 3 months will be excluded (ethics approval and informed consent will be obtained for assessing patients' medical records, CMS of the hospital authority or e-health, to confirm drug information)
• active illicit drug use and
• past mindfulness course or practices in the previous 12 months