Feasibility of using a General Health Promotion Approach to Helping Smokers with Non- Communicable Diseases Quit Smoking: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and ascertain the feasibility of a general health promotion approach that uses instant messaging to deliver brief motivational interviewing to help smokers with non-communicable diseases quit smoking. A total of 60 participants who had medical follow-up in a special out-patient clinic were randomized into two groups, 30 in the intervention group received brief motivational interviewing to assist them with their chosen behavioral changes, and 30 in the control group received only a smoking cessation booklet. The primary outcome, by intention-to-treat, was biochemically validated abstinence at 12 months. The intervention group had a higher biochemically validated abstinence rate than the control group at 12 months (16.7% vs 6.7% P =.23) although the difference was not statistically significant (Adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.43–13.75; P =.32). In addition, the intervention group had a significantly higher self-reported reduction of at least 50% in daily cigarette consumption than the control group at 6 months (Adjusted OR 7.2, 95% CI 1.22–42.44; P =.03).This study demonstrated the potential efficacy and feasibility of a general health promotion approach that uses instant messaging to deliver brief motivational interviewing to help smokers with non-communicable diseases quit smoking.