Effect of smoking-related COVID-19 risk messaging on smoking cessation in community smokers: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Observational and experimental studies have suggested that messaging on smoking-related COVID-19 risk may promote smoking abstinence, but evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is lacking.

Methods

This was a pragmatic RCT in Hong Kong, China, to compare the effectiveness of communicating smoking-related COVID-19 risk with generic cessation support on abstinence. Both groups received brief cessation advice at baseline. The intervention group received messaging on smoking-related COVID-19 risk and cessation support via instant messaging for three months (16 messages in total), which highlighted the increased risk of severe COVID-19 and deaths, and potentially higher risk of viral exposure (e.g. due to mask removal) for smokers. The control group received

SUBMITTER: Weng X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10266330 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature