Abstract
BackgroundActively referring smokers to smoking cessation (SC) services could increase quitting and is scalable for the population. The objective of this study is to compare 2 different intensities of SC active referral for smokers in the community of Hong Kong.Methods/designThis is a single-blind, parallel 3-armed cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) consisting of high-intensity SC active referral (HAR Group), low-intensity SC referral by text messaging on promoting SC services use (Text Group) and a control group receives general very brief advice. Biochemically validated daily smokers will be proactively recruited in the community from 68 clusters (recruitment sessions). The primary outcome is self-reported 7-days point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at the 3- and 6- month follow-ups. Secondary outcomes are SC service use, smoking reduction rate (SRR, daily cigarette consumption reduced by ≥50%; excluding quitters) and biochemically validated quit rate (exhaled CO < 4 ppm and salivary cotinine < 10 ng/ml). Outcome assessors and data analysts will be blinded to group allocation. Intention-to-treat principle and Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) regressions will be used for data analysis.DiscussionThis will be the first trial on evaluating the efficacy of the 2 different intensities of SC active referral on smoking cessation in community smokers. It is anticipated that the results from this trial can provide evidence to the effectiveness of high-intensity active referral to SC services and low intensity SC referral by using text messaging in achieving smoking abstinence.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02804880, June 17, 2016.
Highlights
Referring smokers to smoking cessation (SC) services could increase quitting and is scalable for the population
It is anticipated that the results from this trial can provide evidence to the effectiveness of high-intensity active referral to SC services and low intensity SC referral by using text messaging in achieving smoking abstinence
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted to evaluate whether high-intensity active referral to SC services is more effective than low intensity of SC referral by using text messaging in achieving abstinence among smokers in the community
Summary
Referring smokers to smoking cessation (SC) services could increase quitting and is scalable for the population. A variety of free SC services (e.g. quit-lines, clinics) are available in Hong Kong, the utility rate is low and only 14.2% of smokers had ever used [2]. Referring smokers to SC services is one of the cheap and scalable strategies that can maximize usage of public cessation counselling and treatment. Unlike passive referrals that rely on smokers’ self-initiation, active referral emphasizes physicians or other healthcare professionals efforts to refer smokers to SC services directly [9, 10]. Our previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that moderate active referral of SC services significantly increased smoking abstinence rate at 6 months when compared with brief general SC advice (17.2% vs 11.5%, p = 0.02) [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
