scholarly journals Exploring Community Smokers’ Perspectives for Developing a Chat-Based Smoking Cessation Intervention Delivered Through Mobile Instant Messaging: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu Tsun Luk ◽  
Sze Wing Wong ◽  
Jung Jae Lee ◽  
Sophia Siu-Chee Chan ◽  
Tai Hing Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Smoking Cessation Intervention ◽  
Communication Tool ◽  
Cessation Intervention ◽  
Current Cigarette

BACKGROUND Advances in mobile communication technologies provide a promising avenue for the delivery of tobacco dependence treatment. Although mobile instant messaging (IM) apps (eg, WhatsApp, Facebook messenger, and WeChat) are an inexpensive and widely used communication tool, evidence on its use for promoting health behavior, including smoking cessation, is scarce. OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the perception of using mobile IM as a modality to deliver a proposed chat intervention for smoking cessation in community smokers in Hong Kong, where the proportion of smartphone use is among the highest in the world. METHODS We conducted 5 focus group, semistructured qualitative interviews on a purposive sample of 15 male and 6 female current cigarette smokers (age 23-68 years) recruited from the community in Hong Kong. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. Two investigators independently analyzed the transcripts using thematic analyses. RESULTS Participants considered mobile IM as a feasible and acceptable platform for the delivery of a supportive smoking cessation intervention. The ability to provide more personalized and adaptive behavioral support was regarded as the most valued utility of the IM–based intervention. Other perceived utilities included improved perceived psychosocial support and identification of motivator to quit. In addition, participants provided suggestions on the content and design of the intervention, which may improve the acceptability and usability of the IM–based intervention. These include avoiding health warning information, positive messaging, using former smokers as counselors, and adjusting the language style (spoken vs written) according to the recipients’ preference. CONCLUSIONS This qualitative study provides the first evidence that mobile IM may be an alternative mobile health platform for the delivery of a smoking cessation intervention. Furthermore, the findings inform the development of a chat-based, IM smoking cessation program being evaluated in a community trial.

Proactive and Brief Smoking Cessation Intervention for Smokers at Outdoor Smoking “Hotspots” in Hong Kong

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Siu Chee Chan ◽  
Yee Tak Derek Cheung ◽  
Zoe Wan ◽  
Man Ping Wang ◽  
Tai-hing Lam
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Smoking Cessation Intervention ◽  
Cessation Intervention

scholarly journals Free access to nicotine substitutes and e-cigarette for tobacco cessation: STOP a pilot intervention

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Héron ◽  
M Melchior ◽  
F El-Khoury
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Smoking Cessation Intervention ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Cessation Intervention ◽  
Paris Area ◽  
Economic Position

Abstract Background Smoking rates in France are high, and present a substantial socio-economic gradient. Smokers with low socio-economic position (SEP) may be more dependent on nicotine, and have more financial difficulties to buy nicotine substitutes. Tailored approaches are therefore needed. Methods STOP (Sevrage Tabagique à l’aide d’Outils dédiés selon la Préférence) is an ongoing pilot study, examining the acceptability of a smoking cessation intervention. Smokers with low SEP are recruited in six healthcare centres in Greater Paris area by health professionals and are offered substitute(s) of their choice for 4 weeks. Participants can choose between different types of nicotine substitutes (NS; patches, inhalers, etc.) and/or an e-cigarette delivered free of charge. The acceptability of this approach is examined in patients and doctors, using a mixed-method approach. Results So far, 30 smokers have been included in our study, 20% chose e-cigarettes, 36% chose NS, 36% chose both, and 2 participants (8%) chose neither. More than half of participants quit smoking (66%) at one week after inclusion, with 11 reporting tobacco abstinence out of 16 participants followed for 4 weeks. The average number of cigarettes smoked decreased from 15(sd = 10) at inclusion to 8.5 (sd = 5) among those who didn’t quit at four week. In qualitative interviews, one of the facilitators highlighted by health professionals was the perceived “met need” of smokers with low SEP when given free quitting aids without upfront-payment. One of the reported obstacles is the difficulty in scheduling consecutive follow-up meetings in short time. Discussion It is feasible to implement a smoking cessation programme aimed at smokers with low SEP, and embedded in the healthcare system. If proven effective, this intervention could contribute to decreasing social inequalities with regard to tobacco use. Recruitment in a randomised controlled multicentre trial based on this pilot study will start at the end of 2019. Key messages It is feasible to put in place a smoking cessation intervention among socially-disadvantaged in healthcare centres. Free access to nicotine substitutes and e-cigarettes could be a promising smoking cessation intervention among smokers with low socio-economic position.

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