Mobile Chat Messaging for Preventing Smoking Relapse Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had reduced access to traditional, in-person smoking cessation treatment. We examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of mobile chat messaging in preventing smoking relapse in smokers who have recently quit smoking.

Methods

In this assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial in five cessation clinics, we recruited adult daily smokers who had been receiving cessation treatments and abstained for 3 to 30 days. The intervention group received real-time, personalized chat messaging on relapse prevention via WhatsApp for 3 months. The control group received generic text messaging on the harms of smoking and benefits of quitting for 3 months. The primary outcome was carbon monoxide-validated abstinence

SUBMITTER: Luk TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9383464 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature