An interventional study of Chat-based support and AWARD plus COVID-specific advice in Smoking Cessation, sponsored by The University of Hong Kong. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-05-23.
Sponsored by The University of Hong Kong · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
The present study will examine (1) the effectiveness of a combined brief advice and personalized chat-based support on COVID-19 related smoking messages and (2) explore the use of CBPR model to build capacity and to engage community partners in taking on this important public health issue for sustainability in the community. In addition, a process evaluation will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the recruitment activity and how it is linked with the overall program outcomes.
Smoking is detrimental to the immune system and can cause respiratory tract infection. Growing evidence has suggested that compared to non-smokers, COVID-19 patients who have a history of smoking are at a higher risk of developing severe respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms, consequently may require mechanical ventilation and intensive care. A case series of 1,099 COVID-19 patients in China has found that ever smokers, compared with never smokers, were more likely to have severe COVID-19 disease upon hospital admission and be admitted to intensive care unit, need to use mechanical ventilation, and die. The result is corroborated by a multivariable analysis of 78 COVID-19 pneumonia cases in China, which identified smoking as the only preventable risk factor for disease progression. While the link between smoking and the COVID-19 needs further research, smokers appear to be at a greater risk of suffering from serious symptoms due to COVID-19.
The practice of smoking might also predispose smokers to COVID-19 infection. Smoking behavior is characterized by inhalation and the hand-to-mouth movements which increase the possibility of transmission of virus from contaminated fingers and cigarettes to mouth. In Hong Kong, where smoking is banned in indoor public areas and workplace, smokers often gather and smoke at smoking hotspots outdoor, where ashtrays are available. This increases their risk of infection since the smokers are in close contact with each other and have to remove their mask to smoke. Exhaling smoke also aids the spreading the virus in the air. However, misleading information that smoking can prevent COVID-19 infection is widespread on social media.
Public health strategies (e.g., social distancing, staying at home and working from home) may motivate some smokers to reduce or to quit smoking due to the inconvenience to smoke indoor and to buy cigarettes from retail outlets. However, home confinement may result in social isolation and psychological distress (anxiety and stress) both increasing the need for smoking. Some smokers who are not used to smoke at home might be prompted to smoke at home to cope with their craving during lockdown or work from home, which may also expose their family members from second-hand smoke.
Our RCT in QTW Contest 2017 evaluated the effectiveness of a chat-based intervention delivered through a mobile instant messaging application (WhatsApp) plus active referral to SC services to increase quitting. Chat-based intervention resulted in higher abstinence rate compared with the control group at 6-month follow-up. In QTW Contest 2019, we evaluated the effectiveness of a combined intervention of AWARD advice, active referral, instant messaging and optional cocktail intervention to increase abstinence. The preliminary result showed that the personalized instant messaging (PIM) group and regular instant messaging (RIM) group had similar abstinence rate at 6-month follow-up.
Therefore, the present study will examine (1) the effectiveness of a combined brief advice and personalized chat-based support on COVID-19 related smoking messages and (2) explore the use of CBPR model to build capacity and to engage community partners in taking on this important public health issue for sustainability in the community. In addition, a process evaluation will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the recruitment activity and how it is linked with the overall program outcomes.
7,640 studies on the registry are indexed under COVID-19; 488 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 1,166 is above the median of 100 across 4,099 interventional studies indexed under COVID-19.
Browse COVID-19 studies →The University of Hong Kong is the lead sponsor of 1,262 studies on the registry; 340 are open to participants now.
Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Chat-based support+ COVID-19 specific advice + AWARD advice + COVID-related health warning leaflet + referral card + COSH booklet
Behavioral: Chat-based support · Behavioral: AWARD plus COVID-specific advice · Behavioral: COVID-19 related health warning leaflet · Behavioral: Referral card · Behavioral: COSH Self-help smoking cessation booklet
Text-based support + AWARD advice + warning leaflet + referral card + COSH booklet
Behavioral: AWARD advice · Behavioral: Health warning leaflet · Behavioral: SMS-based support · Behavioral: Referral card · Behavioral: COSH Self-help smoking cessation booklet
Participants will receive three months of chat-based support through IM apps (e.g. WhatsApp, WeChat). The regular messages and instant messaging on psychosocial support aim to provide hygienic advice to reduce the risk of exposure to SARS-cov2, increase self-efficacy and confidence, and social support and behavioral capacity of quitting.
Ask about smoking history, Warn about the risks associated with the COVID-19 and smoking (with a COVID-related health warning leaflet), Advise to quit as soon as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, Refer smokers to SC services (with a referral card, see below for information), and Do it again: to repeat the intervention
Also known as: Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer, Do-it-again
Ask about smoking history, Warn about the high risk of smoking, Advise to quit as soon as possible, Refer to the smoking cessation services, and Do it again (if the smokers refused to set quit date).
Also known as: Ask, Warn, Advise, Refer, Do-it-again
The 2-sided color printed A4 leaflet, which covers the risk of COVID-19 and smoking and the most important messages to motivate smoking cessation
The 2-sided color printed A4 leaflet, which systematically covers the most important messages to motivate smoking cessation.
Also known as: Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation
Participants will receive regular SMS with similar frequency to Intervention group but with generic information on smoking cessation.
The 3-folded "Smoking Cessation Services" card consists of brief information and highlights of existing smoking cessation services, contact methods, motivation information and strong supporting messages or slogans.
Also known as: Smoking Cessation Service Card
A general smoking cessation self-help booklet
Biochemical validated quit rate
The primary outcomes are biochemically validated quit rates (exhaled CO \< 4 ppm or salivary cotinine \< 30 ng/ml) at 3-month in the two groups
Time frame: 3-month follow-up
Biochemical validated quit rate
The primary outcomes are biochemically validated quit rates (exhaled CO \< 4 ppm or salivary cotinine \< 30 ng/ml) at 6-month in the two groups
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
Smoking quit rate change from baseline at 3-month follow-up
Self-reported 7-day point prevalence (pp) quit rate at 3-month between the two groups
Time frame: 3-month follow-up
Smoking quit rate change from baseline at 6-month follow-up
Self-reported 7-day point prevalence (pp) quit rate at 6-month between the two groups
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
Smoking reduction rate change from baseline at 3-month follow-up
Rate of smoking reduction by at least half of baseline amount in the two groups
Time frame: 3-month follow-up
Smoking reduction rate change from baseline at 6-month follow-up
Rate of smoking reduction by at least half of baseline amount in the two groups
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
Engagement in chat-based/text-based support
Self-reported engagement in chat-based/SMS-based support in the two groups
Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up
Plan to share: No
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This study is completed, as verified in May 2023. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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The University of Hong Kong