TY - JOUR
T1 - The efficacy of mobile phone-based text message interventions ('Happy Quit') for smoking cessation in China
AU - Liao, Yanhui
AU - Wu, Qiuxia
AU - Tang, Jinsong
AU - Zhang, Fengyu
AU - Wang, Xuyi
AU - Qi, Chang
AU - He, Haoyu
AU - Long, Jiang
AU - Kelly, Brian C.
AU - Cohen, Joanna
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Author(s).
PY - 2016/8/19
Y1 - 2016/8/19
N2 - Background: Considering the extreme shortage of smoking cessation services in China, and the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of mobile phone-based text message interventions for quitting smoking in other countries, here we propose a study of "the efficacy of mobile phone-based text message interventions ('Happy Quit') for smoking cessation in China". The primary objective of this proposed project is to assess whether a program of widely accessed mobile phone-based text message interventions ('Happy Quit') will be effective at helping people in China who smoke, to quit. Based on the efficacy of previous studies in smoking cessation, we hypothesize that 'Happy Quit' will be an effective, feasible and affordable smoking cessation program in China. Methods/Design: In this single-blind, randomized trial, undertaken in China, about 2000 smokers willing to make a quit attempt will be randomly allocated, using an independent telephone randomization system that includes a minimization algorithm balancing for sex (male, female), age (19-34 or >34 years), educational level (≤ or >12 years), and Fagerstrom score for nicotine addiction (≤5, >5), to 'Happy Quit', comprising motivational messages and behavioral-change support, or to a control group that receives text messages unrelated to quitting. Messages will be developed to be suitable for Chinese. A pilot study will be conducted before the intervention to modify the library of messages and interventions. The primary outcome will be self-reported continuous smoking abstinence. A secondary outcome will be point prevalence of abstinence. Abstinence will be assessed at six time points (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks post-intervention). A third outcome will be reductions in number of cigarettes smoked per day. Discussion/Implications: The results will provide valuable insights into bridging the gap between need and services received for smoking cessation interventions and tobacco use prevention in China. It will also serve as mHealth model for extending the public health significance of other interventions, such as mental health interventions. Trial registration: NCT02693626 (Registration data April 11, 2016).
AB - Background: Considering the extreme shortage of smoking cessation services in China, and the acceptability, feasibility and efficacy of mobile phone-based text message interventions for quitting smoking in other countries, here we propose a study of "the efficacy of mobile phone-based text message interventions ('Happy Quit') for smoking cessation in China". The primary objective of this proposed project is to assess whether a program of widely accessed mobile phone-based text message interventions ('Happy Quit') will be effective at helping people in China who smoke, to quit. Based on the efficacy of previous studies in smoking cessation, we hypothesize that 'Happy Quit' will be an effective, feasible and affordable smoking cessation program in China. Methods/Design: In this single-blind, randomized trial, undertaken in China, about 2000 smokers willing to make a quit attempt will be randomly allocated, using an independent telephone randomization system that includes a minimization algorithm balancing for sex (male, female), age (19-34 or >34 years), educational level (≤ or >12 years), and Fagerstrom score for nicotine addiction (≤5, >5), to 'Happy Quit', comprising motivational messages and behavioral-change support, or to a control group that receives text messages unrelated to quitting. Messages will be developed to be suitable for Chinese. A pilot study will be conducted before the intervention to modify the library of messages and interventions. The primary outcome will be self-reported continuous smoking abstinence. A secondary outcome will be point prevalence of abstinence. Abstinence will be assessed at six time points (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks post-intervention). A third outcome will be reductions in number of cigarettes smoked per day. Discussion/Implications: The results will provide valuable insights into bridging the gap between need and services received for smoking cessation interventions and tobacco use prevention in China. It will also serve as mHealth model for extending the public health significance of other interventions, such as mental health interventions. Trial registration: NCT02693626 (Registration data April 11, 2016).
KW - 'Happy Quit'
KW - China
KW - Interventions
KW - Mobile phone-based text message
KW - Smoking cessation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84982293369&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84982293369&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-016-3528-5
DO - 10.1186/s12889-016-3528-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 27543164
AN - SCOPUS:84982293369
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 16
JO - BMC public health
JF - BMC public health
IS - 1
M1 - 833
ER -