Health-care interventions to promote and assist tobacco cessation: a review of efficacy, effectiveness and affordability for use in national guideline development

Tailored text-messaging versus standard Quitline telephone counselling for smoking cessation among people who smoke from a low-socio-economic status background in Australia: A study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial (The Quit By Phone Study)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Signficant inequalities in tobacco smoking exist, with higher smoking rates among people from low-socio-economic status (low-SES) populations. Tailored technology-based programs for low-SES smoking populations have the potential for high reach, but require effectiveness data from large-scale trials. This trial among Australians who smoke from a low-SES background will determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tailored text-message (TTM) support compared with standard Quitline (SQL) telephone support service.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This is a two-arm, parallel group, randomized, non-inferiority trial with allocation concealment and blinded outcome assessment in an Australian population within the greater Sydney region in New South Wales. Participants are adults who smoke daily (n = 1246), are interested in quitting and currently receiving a government pension or allowance, and will be recruited via advertisements.

INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR

Participants will be randomized (1:1 ratio) to receive either 12 months of TTM quit support or enrolment in SQL telephone support.

MEASUREMENTS

Assessments will be completed at baseline (telephone interview), within 1 month (check-in call), at 3 months (on-line questionnaire) and 12 months (telephone interview) post-randomization. The primary outcome will be 6-month continuous abstinence verified by carbon monoxide breath test at 12-month follow-up. The study will test whether TTM is non-inferior to SQL by a non-inferiority margin of 2%, i.e. the quit rate in the TTM group will be no worse than 2% less than the quit rate in the SQL group. Secondary outcomes will include self-reported continuous and point prevalence abstinence and acceptability and cost-effectiveness of TTM versus SQL.

CONCLUSION

Should the tailored text-message support prove non-inferior and more cost-effective than Quitline for this population, this will provide an opportunity for the upscaling of an effective, inexpensive and tailored quit support service. The trial findings will inform cessation treatment policy for priority populations in Australia and globally.

Identifying behaviour change techniques, technical features and implementation options for a virtual reality intervention to motivate adult smokers to quit: A focus group study with healthcare and virtual reality experts

Objective

In this study, individuals working in healthcare or virtual reality (VR) were invited to contribute towards developing a VR intervention to encourage adults to quit smoking, by building upon user-generated ideas from a previous co-design study with adult smokers.

Methods

Three online focus groups were with healthcare workers (n = 26), and one was with VR experts (n = 4). Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

In the first theme, experts agreed that previous co-design content showing the outcomes of quitting or not quitting could be helpful. Suggested behaviour change techniques included 'prompt comparative imagining of future outcomes', and 'imaginary reward'. Experts suggested a format where users could customise an avatar and select what content they see, creating a tailored narrative. There was a subtheme about the potential unsuitability of co-design content based on extreme fear appeals, which experts thought could trigger fatalism or defensiveness. The second theme covers considerations to make VR safe and inclusive. For example, making the experience seated for those with limited mobility, hygiene protocols and a screening process to exclude smokers at risk of harm (individuals with frailty, photosensitive epilepsy or a serious mental health condition). The last theme outlines the benefits and potential barriers of implementing VR with the 'ask, advise, act' model for smoking cessation used in healthcare contexts.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that VR has the potential to deliver embodied, interactive and customisable smoking cessation messages, rooted in behavioural theory. The suggestions will inform the development of a prototype which will subsequently be evaluated.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Brief Interventions for Smoking Cessation Performed by Family Doctors

Background/Objectives: Tobacco smoking is the most important cause of chronic diseases and premature death worldwide. Very brief advice (VBA) and brief advice (BA) represent evidence-based interventions designed to increase quit attempts. These are appropriate for all smokers, regardless of their motivation to quit, and involve several steps regarding the assessment, advice, and action. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of these brief interventions offered by general practitioners (GPs) in smoking cessation. Methods: A systematic search for articles that presented these interventions as an aid to support smoking cessation was conducted. The rate of successful smoking cessation was evaluated following interventions offered by general practitioners, regardless of the patients' present motivation to quit. Results: We have checked if these interventions can be used as an innovative method to help active smokers make an informed decision regarding their behaviour. Assisted/supported/guided by a general practitioner, current cigarette smokers can decide to quit smoking and identify the best way of cessation. We processed relevant data where brief interventions were used as the main counselling method to aid smoking cessation, regardless of using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), heated tobacco products (HTPs), or vaping.

Mapping brain activity and neurotransmitters pre-cigarette smoking evolution: A study of male subjects

BACKGROUND

The impact of tobacco smoking on global health persists and it is essential to understand the progression of addiction and the involvement of neurotransmitters.

METHODS

This study assessed 47 participants with tobacco use disorder (TUD) categorized based on changes in Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) scores over 6 years: progressive TUD (pTUD), regressive TUD (rTUD), and stable TUD (sTUD). Additionally, 35 healthy controls were included. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate brain regional homogeneity (ReHo) and correlations with neurotransmitter distributions using JuSpace.

RESULTS

Significant differences in ReHo were observed among pTUD, rTUD, sTUD, and controls. After strict Bonferroni correction, rTUD exhibited increased ReHo in the dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus compared to sTUD (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.001). Both pTUD (p < 0.001) and rTUD (p < 0.001) showed decreased ReHo in the superior temporal gyrus compared to sTUD. sTUD had increased ReHo in the supramarginal gyrus compared to all other groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, separately). The strongest association, which survived rigorous Bonferroni correction, was between the ReHo changes in rTUD compared to sTUD and neurotransmitter distribution. This includes 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (p = 0.001), gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (p < 0.001), norepinephrine transporter (p < 0.001), and N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insights into how smoking behaviors correlate with alterations in brain activity and neurotransmitter function. By elucidating these neural links to tobacco use disorder progression, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of smoking's neurological impact and potentially inform more targeted therapeutic strategies.

Disparities in Telehealth Offer and Use among U.S. Adults: 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey

Objective: Understanding the sources of telehealth disparities can inform efforts to ensure equity. This study examines disparities in telehealth offer and use to understand the role of health care providers in increasing telehealth access. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis of the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 5,295) used survey-weighted proportions to characterize telehealth use and multivariable logistic regressions to test associations of sociodemographic and social determinants with (1) telehealth offer and (2) use among those offered the option. Results: Among U.S. adults, 57% were offered telehealth, 80% of whom used it. Technology difficulties and privacy concerns were barriers for 15%-20% of U.S. adults. Compared to telehealth users, most nonusers preferred in-person care (25% versus 84%). Age, education, geographic location, and broadband internet access were related to telehealth offer, whereas no significant disparities emerged in telehealth use. Conclusions: Telehealth use is widespread, but structural and provider-level engagement are needed to achieve equity.

The effect of heavy smoking on retirement risk: A mendelian randomisation analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The extent to which heavy smoking and retirement risk are causally related remains to be determined. To overcome the endogeneity of heavy smoking behaviour, we employed a novel approach by exploiting the genetic predisposition to heavy smoking, as measured with a polygenic risk score (PGS), in a Mendelian Randomisation approach.

METHODS

8164 participants (mean age 68.86 years) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing had complete data on smoking behaviour, employment and a heavy smoking PGS. Heavy smoking was indexed as smoking at least 20 cigarettes a day. A time-to-event Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, using a complementary log-log (cloglog) link function, was employed to model the retirement risk.

RESULTS

Our results show that being a heavy smoker significantly increases the risk of retirement (β = 1.324, standard error = 0.622, p < 0.05). Results were robust to a battery of checks and a placebo analysis considering the never-smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our findings support a causal pathway from heavy smoking to earlier retirement.

Combining app-based behavioral therapy with electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a study protocol for a single-arm mixed-methods pilot trial

BACKGROUND

Cigarette smoking remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death, underscoring the need for effective evidence-based smoking cessation interventions. Nuumi, a novel smoking cessation program integrating a digital behavioral therapy and an electronic cigarette, may provide a solution.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the initial efficacy, acceptability and psychological outcomes of an evidence-based smoking cessation intervention comprised of a mobile phone app and an electronic cigarette among adults who smoke and who are motivated to quit.

METHODS

A prospective 6-month single-arm mixed-methods pilot study will be conducted. Seventy adults who smoke and who are motivated to quit will be recruited via web-based advertisements and flyers. Participants receive access to an app and an electronic cigarette with pods containing nicotine for temporary use of at least 3 months. The electronic cigarette is coupled with the app via Bluetooth, allowing for tracking of patterns of use. The behavioral therapy leverages evidence-based content informed by cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-informed principles. Web-based self-report surveys will be conducted at baseline, at 4 weeks, at 8 weeks, at 12 weeks, and at 24 weeks post-baseline. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted at baseline and at 12 weeks post-baseline. Primary outcomes will be self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence from smoking at 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include other smoking cessation-related outcomes, psychological outcomes, and acceptability of the nuumi intervention. Descriptive analyses and within-group comparisons will be performed on the quantitative data, and content analyses will be performed on the qualitative data. Recruitment for this study started in October 2023.

DISCUSSION

As tobacco smoking is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, this research addresses one of the largest health burdens of our time. The results will provide insights into the initial efficacy, acceptability, and psychological outcomes of a novel mobile health intervention for smoking cessation. If successful, this pilot may generate an effective intervention supporting adults who smoke to quit smoking. The results will inform feasibility of a future randomized controlled trial. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00032652, registered 09/15/2023, https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00032652 .

Effectiveness of Very Brief Advice on Tobacco Cessation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Very brief advice (VBA; ≤ 3 min) on quitting is practical and scalable during brief medical interactions with patients who smoke. This study aims to synthesize the effectiveness of VBA for smoking cessation and summarize the implementation strategies.

METHODS

We searched randomized controlled trials aiming at tobacco abstinence and comparing VBA versus no smoking advice or no contact from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo databases, six Chinese databases, two trial registries ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO-ICTRP from inception to September 30, 2023. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework was used to assess the certainty of the evidence of the meta-analytic findings. The outcomes were self-reported long-term tobacco abstinence at least 6 months after treatment initiation, earlier than 6 months after treatment initiation, and quit attempts. Effect sizes were computed as risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI using frequentist random-effect models.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Thirteen randomized controlled trials from 15 articles (n = 26,437) were included. There was moderate-certainty evidence that VBA significantly increased self-reported tobacco abstinence at ≥ 6 months in the adjusted model (adjusted risk ratio ARR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07-1.27) compared with controls. The sensitivity analysis showed similar results when abstinence was verified by biochemical validation (n = 6 studies, RR 1.53, 95% CI 0.98-2.40). There was high-certainty evidence that VBA significantly increased abstinence at < 6 months (ARR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47). Evidence of effect on quit attempts (ARR 1.03, 95% CI 0.97-1.08) was of very low certainty.

DISCUSSION

VBA delivered in a clinical setting is effective in increasing self-reported tobacco abstinence, which provides support for wider adoption in clinical practice.

The efficacy and acceptability of pharmacological monotherapies and e-cigarette on smoking cessation: a systemic review and network meta-analysis

Background and aims

Several pharmacological interventions, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), varenicline, and bupropion, have been approved for clinical use of smoking cessation. E-cigarettes (EC) are increasingly explored by many RCTs for their potentiality in smoking cessation. In addition, some RCTs are attempting to explore new drugs for smoking cessation, such as cytisine. This network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to investigate how these drugs and e-cigarettes compare regarding their efficacy and acceptability.

Materials and methods

This systematic review and NMA searched all clinical studies on smoking cessation using pharmacological monotherapies or e-cigarettes published from January 2011 to May 2022 using MEDLINE, COCHRANE Library, and PsychINFO databases. NRTs were divided into transdermal (TDN) and oronasal nicotine (ONN) by administrative routes, thus 7 network nodes were set up for direct and indirect comparison. Two different indicators measured the efficacy: prevalent and continuous smoking abstinence. The drop-out rates measured the acceptability.

Results

The final 40 clinical studies included in this study comprised 77 study cohorts and 25,889 participants. Varenicline is more effective intervention to assist in smoking cessation during 16-32 weeks follow-up, and is very likely to prompt dropout. Cytisine shows more effectiveness in continuous smoking cessation but may also lead to dropout. E-cigarettes and oronasal nicotine are more effective than no treatment in encouraging prevalent abstinence, but least likely to prompt dropout. Finally, transdermal nicotine delivery is more effective than no treatment in continuous abstinence, with neither significant effect on prevalent abstinence nor dropout rate.

Conclusion

This review suggested and agreed that Varenicline, Cytisine and transdermal nicotine delivery, as smoking cessation intervention, have advantages and disadvantages. However, we had to have reservations about e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking in adolescents.

Arab male physicians' perceptions about their own smoking behaviors: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death worldwide. Although physicians have high levels of health literacy with awareness of the consequences of smoking and their essential role in smoking cessation of patients, some physicians continue to smoke. Rates of smoking among Arab male physicians are high. This study aimed to gain insights into Arab male physician's perceptions of their own smoking behaviors and their professional role in health promotion.

METHODS

Using purposive sampling, we recruited 25 Arab male physicians working in hospital and community clinic settings who currently smoke. Semi-structured, hour-long, interviews were held during January-June 2022. We then performed a thematic analysis of the interview data.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed three categories, two sub-categories, and 15 emerging themes. The category 'Antecedents: prior to becoming a physician' revealed the themes: smoking experience during adolescence; social and ethnic culture; stress during medical studies; and on & off periods of quitting smoking. The category 'Physicians' perception of smoking' was sorted into two sub-categories: (1) Personal aspects, including the themes 'relaxation from stress', 'self-compensation', 'addiction', and 'enjoyable experience', and (2) Professional aspects, including the themes 'lack of knowledge about cessation', 'inadequate workplace support', 'motivation to consult patients', and 'awareness of their role as primary care physicians'. The category'Impacts' revealed the themes 'personal health and well-being', 'professional competence', and 'professional image in public'.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an in-depth understanding of the personal, socio-cultural, and professional aspects of the phenomenon of Arab male smoking physicians from their perspective. Based on this information, we recommend developing programs that support and empower all physicians to cope better with their personal and professional stress as well as instituting programs that will provide all physicians with specific knowledge and skills related to smoking cessation. These programs should improve the ability of physicians to serve as positive role models for their patients for preventing and ceasing smoking, thus enhancing the image of the medical profession and, most importantly, improving the health of the public.

The association between smoking and family health with the mediation role of personality among Chinese people: nationwide cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

There may be unexplored interactions between family health, personality, and smoking that could help provide new perspectives on tobacco control.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between the health of one's family and their smoking habits, as well as investigate the potential influence of personality on this relationship.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional investigation, a national survey conducted in China in 2022 recruited a total of 21,916 individuals. The Family Health Scale was utilized to assess the health of the family. The 10-item Big Five Inventory scale was utilized to assess the Big five personality traits. The relationship between big five personality, family health, and smoking were investigated using binary and linear logistic regression. The indirect effects mediated by Big five personality were analyzed using mediation analysis with Sobel tests, and the indirect effects were composited using the Karlson-Holm-Breen method.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of smoking in the study population was 14.87%, 26.19% for males and 3.54% for females. Urban and rural smoking prevalence was 13.81% and 16.10% respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between smoking and family health (odds ratio 0.964, 95% CI 0.959, 0.970, P < 0.001) with covariates controlled. The Karlson-Holm-Breen composition facilitated the connection between extraversion (47.81%) and nervousness (52.19%).

CONCLUSIONS

Preventive interventions for smoking behavior should prioritize family health and the Big five personality as significant areas to focus on. According to this study, in addition to implementing various interventions for different personalities, family health should be strengthened to reduce smoking behavior.

Efficacy of e-health interventions for smoking cessation management in smokers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Smoking is one of the major risk factors for shortened lifespan and disability, while smoking cessation is currently the only guaranteed method to reduce the harm caused by smoking. E-health is a field that utilizes information and communication technology to support the health status of its users. The emergence of this digital health approach has provided a new way of smoking cessation support for smokers seeking help, and an increasing number of researchers are attempting to use e-health for a wide range of effective smoking cessation interventions. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that used e-health as a smoking cessation support tool.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases until December 2022. The included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the use of e-health interventions and traditional offline smoking cessation care interventions. The primary outcome of the studies was the point smoking cessation rate (7-day and 30-day), and the secondary outcome was sustained smoking cessation rates. Studies were excluded if there was no clear e-health intervention described or if standard-compliant cessation outcomes were not clearly reported. Fixed-effects meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses were performed on the included study data to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. The meta-analysis outcome was the risk ratio (RR) and a 95% confidence interval. The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42023388667.

Findings

We collectively screened 2408 articles, and ultimately included 39 articles with a total of 17,351 eligible participants, of which 44 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that compared to traditional smoking cessation interventions, e-health interventions can increase point quit rates (RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.69-2.04) as well as sustained quit rates in the long-term (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.60-2.00) among smokers. Subgroup analysis showed that text and telephone interventions in e-health significantly improved short-term quit rates for up to 7 days (RR 2.10, 95% CI 1.77-2.48). Website and app interventions also had a positive impact on improving short-term quit rates for up to 7 days (RR 1.74, 95% CI 1.56-1.94). The heterogeneity of the study results was low, demonstrating the significant smoking cessation advantages of e-health interventions.

Interpretation

We have found that personalized e-health interventions can effectively help smokers quit smoking. The diverse remote intervention methods of e-health can provide more convenient options for further customization. Additionally, further follow-up research is needed to evaluate the sustained effectiveness of interventions on smokers' continuous abstinence over a longer period (greater than one year). In the future, e-health can further optimize smoking cessation strategies.

Funding

No funding.

Process and effect evaluation of a referral aid for smoking cessation counselling in primary care: Findings of a randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

This study explored the use and effects of a smoking cessation referral in: 1) practice nurses (PNs), and 2) smokers. The use of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions (EBSCIs) can double the likelihood of a successful smoking cessation attempt. A referral aid was developed to aid Dutch PNs in primary care in deciding which smokers are the most suitable for EBSCI.

METHODS

Two different studies were conducted: 1) a randomized controlled trial with a process evaluation (n=82) and effect evaluation (n=285) among smoking patients recruited by PNs (n=73), and 2) a process evaluation among a subgroup of PNs (n=40) from January 2019 to September 2020.

RESULTS

Overall, the response in both groups was low. PNs found the referral aid materials clear and understandable. Smokers had similar but (slightly) less-positive opinions. The smokers in both groups did not differ in the amount of discussion and use of EBSCIs, nor on smoking abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research should assess how to better involve PNs and smokers when recruiting for an RCT and how to foster effective counselling. Additional research should also look deeper into barriers to referral of both PNs and smokers, and how to stimulate referral to EBSCIs best and help smokers to make a decision; for example by implementing a simplified strategy both within the primary care setting and outside, by involving other healthcare professionals or options outside healthcare such as the workplace and social domain.

Trial registration

The study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NL7020, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7020).

Intentions to Quit, Quit Attempts, and the Use of Cessation Aids Among Malaysian Adult Smokers: Findings From the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Survey

This study examined quitting behavior and use of cessation aids (CAs) among Malaysian adult smokers aged ≥18 years (n = 1,047). Data were from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Survey were analyzed. A total of 79.9% of Malaysian smokers attempted to quit in the past 12 months and 85.2% intended to quit in the next 6 months. The most common CAs were e-cigarettes (ECs) (61.4%), medication/nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs; 51.0%), and printed materials (36.7%); the least common CA was infoline/quitline services (8.1%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between sociodemographic variables and CAs use. Male smokers were more likely to use infoline/quitline services (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.27; P = .034). Malay smokers were more likely to use infoline/quitline services (aOR = 3.36; P = .002), ECs (aOR = 1.90; P = .004), printed materials (aOR = 1.79; P = .009), and in-person services (aOR = 1.75; P = .043). Most Malaysian smokers wanted to quit smoking. Furthermore, ECs were the most popular CAs, highlighting the need to assess the effectiveness of ECs for quitting smoking in Malaysia.

Factors associated with intentions to quit tobacco use in Lebanon: A cross-sectional survey

Introduction

The prevalence of tobacco smoking in Lebanon is among the highest globally. This study aims to determine past attempts to quit smoking among adults and identify factors associated with intentions to quit.

Methods

A nationally representative telephone survey was conducted between June and August 2022. Eligibility criteria included people aged >=18 years residing in Lebanon. The questionnaire was divided into three components: socio-demographic characteristics, cigarette and waterpipe tobacco use behaviours. Binary logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with intention to quit cigarette and waterpipe tobacco use.

Results

A total of 2003 respondents were included in the study. The prevalence of any tobacco product use was 41%, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 41% and the prevalence of current waterpipe tobacco use was 20%. Approximately 24% of adults who smoke cigarettes and 26% of those who use waterpipe tobacco had previous quit attempts mainly due to health concerns. Intentions to quit smoking within the next 6 months were reported among 12% of survey respondents. Among adults who smoke, past quit attempts increased the likelihood of intentions to quit cigarette smoking by 5-fold (OR: 5.11; 95% CI: 1.80-14.47, p = 0.002) and waterpipe tobacco use by 7-fold (OR: 6.98, 95% CI: 2.63-18.51, p = <0.001). Age and income were associated with intentions to quit cigarette but not waterpipe tobacco use.

Conclusion

Intention to quit smoking was strongly associated with past quitting attempts. Understanding factors associated with intentions to quit can help inform the development of context specific smoking cessation interventions.

IUPHAR-review: The integration of classic psychedelics into current substance use disorder treatment models

Substance use disorders (SUDs) have an enormous impact on public health. With classic psychedelic-assisted therapies showing initial promise in treating multiple SUDs, it is possible that these treatments will become legally available options for patients with SUDs in the future. This article highlights how classic psychedelic-assisted therapies might be integrated into current clinical practice. We first describe contemporary evidence-based treatments for SUDs and highlight how classic psychedelic-assisted therapies might fit within each treatment. We suggest that classic psychedelic-assisted therapies can be integrated into most mainstream evidence-based SUD treatments that are currently used in clinical settings, indicating broad compatibility of classic psychedelics with contemporary SUD treatment paradigms.

Behavioural interventions for tobacco cessation in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Tobacco consumption is an area of public health concern in India. One of the unmet needs of many low-resource countries is to provide cost-effective tobacco cessation interventions for reducing tobacco-related mortality. This article reviews studies on non-pharmacological interventions for tobacco cessation in India. A systematic review by PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) of behavioural intervention-based tobacco cessation studies that met the inclusion criteria, with a minimum 1-month follow-up, reporting outcomes in terms of frequencies or percentages published between 2010 and 2020 was performed. Following the review stages, 16 studies comprising 9,613 participants were included in the review. A pooled estimate was derived using both fixed-effects and random-effects models. The intervention showed good overall efficacy for any tobacco user (relative risk [RR] = 1.73 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58-1.90) (fixed-effect model)] and (RR = 2.02 [95% CI: 1.64-2.48] [random-effects model]). Behavioural intervention studies targeted towards only smokers (RR of 1.81 [95% CI: 1.55-2.11] and 1.96 [95% CI: 1.52-2.53]) and combined smoking and smokeless tobacco users (RR of 1.69 [95% CI: 1.50-1.90] and 2.12 [95% CI: 1.49-3.01]) were equally efficacious. The review provides the effectiveness of behavioural interventions in quitting tobacco among users of both smoking and smokeless forms of tobacco. The review findings are of particular significance to inform health policy decisions on the integration of cost-effective brief behavioural intervention into existing health care services in resource-constrained countries.

Real-world tobacco cessation practice in China: findings from the prospective, nationwide multicenter China National Tobacco Cessation Cohort Study (CNTCCS)

Background

Tobacco cessation is proven to be the most effective and cost-effective strategy for smokers to reduce their risk of smoking-related disease and premature death. Providing effective, efficient, safe, and patient-centred tobacco cessation treatment to reach those who need them is a significant challenge. To date, only a few nationwide studies in China have assessed the overall clinical care practice and treatment outcome of tobacco cessation.

Methods

This a prospective, nationwide, multicenter, cohort study covering all Eastern China, Northwest China, Central China, North China, Southwest China, Northeast China, and South China. Participants who were current smokers aged 18-85 years attending clinic for smoking cessation were included. All the participants were treated with 3-month cessation treatment and followed up for 3 months. Data were collected prospectively using online system. The primary outcome was 7-day point abstinence rate at 24 weeks, validated biochemically by an expired carbon monoxide level of less than 10 ppm. The participants lost to follow-up or not providing validation were included as non-abstainers.

Findings

A representative sample of 3557 participants were recruited and 2943 participants were included into this analysis. These participants had mean age of 53.05 years, and 94.8% were males, with 75.8% showing symptoms of tobacco dependence. A total of 965 (32.8%) participants were treated with Bupropion + behavioural counselling, followed by 935 (31.8%) with behavioural counselling, 778 (26.4%) with Varenicline + behavioural counselling, 135 (4.6%) with alternative treatments + behavioural counselling, and 130 (4.4%) with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) + behavioural counselling. After 3-month treatment and 3-month follow-up, 21.74% of the participants quit smoking at 24 weeks. In the multivariable-adjusted analyses, quitting smoking was significantly associated with female, higher socioeconomic status, poor health condition, different treatment received, and less smoking intensity. The tobacco cessation treatment varied widely across different areas of China. In particular, the areas with higher usage of cessation medication were associated with better cessation treatment outcome.

Interpretation

The CNTCCS is the first large-scale nationwide cohort study of smoking cessation in China. Rich data collected from this prospective cohort study provided the opportunity to evaluate the clinical practice of tobacco cessation treatment in China.

Funding

Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Initiative for Innovative Medicine (CAMS 2021-I2M-1-010), Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Key Program (2022ZXJ03C02), and National Key R&D Program of China (grant no. 2017YFC1309400).

Ending Tobacco Use Through Interactive Tailored Messaging for Cambodian People With HIV (Project EndIT): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of smoking remains high in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including the Southeast Asian nation of Cambodia. Smoking is especially hazardous for people with HIV. In Cambodia, approximately 43%-65% of men with HIV and 3%-5% of women with HIV smoke cigarettes. Thus, there is a critical need for cost-effective smoking cessation interventions for Cambodian people with HIV. This paper describes the design, methods, and data analysis plans for a randomized controlled trial assessing the efficacy of a theory-based mobile health smoking cessation intervention in Cambodian people with HIV.

OBJECTIVE

This 2-group randomized controlled trial compares the efficacy of a mobile health-based automated messaging (AM) intervention versus standard care (SC) in facilitating smoking cessation among Cambodian people with HIV.

METHODS

Cambodian people with HIV who currently smoke and are receiving antiretroviral treatment (target, N=800) will be randomized to (1) SC or (2) the AM intervention. SC participants will receive brief advice to quit smoking, written self-help materials, nicotine patches, and will complete weekly app-delivered dietary assessments for 26 weeks. AM participants will receive all SC components (but will complete smoking-related weekly assessments instead of dietary assessments), in addition to a fully automated tailored messaging program driven by the weekly assessments to facilitate smoking cessation. In the Phase-Based Model of smoking cessation, the cessation process is partitioned into 4 phases: motivation, preparation (precessation), cessation (quit date to 2 weeks post quit), and maintenance (up to 6 months post quit). Our AM program targets processes within these phases, including increasing motivation to quit, enhancing self-efficacy, obtaining social support, skills to cope with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and stress, and skills to maintain abstinence. All participants will complete baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month in-person follow-up assessments. The primary outcome is biochemically confirmed abstinence at 12 months, with 3- and 6-month abstinence as secondary outcomes. Potential mediators and moderators underlying treatment effects will be explored, and cost-effectiveness will be assessed.

RESULTS

This study was approved by all relevant domestic and international institutional and ethical review boards. Participant recruitment commenced in January 2023. Data collection is expected to conclude by the end of 2025.

CONCLUSIONS

By demonstrating the greater efficacy and cost-effectiveness of AM relative to SC, this study has the potential to transform HIV care in Cambodia and prevent tobacco-related diseases. Furthermore, it may be adapted for use in other Cambodian populations and in other low- and middle-income countries. Ultimately, the AM approach to smoking cessation could greatly improve public health in the developing world and beyond.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05746442; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05746442.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/48923.

An effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial of phone-based tobacco cessation interventions in the Lebanese primary healthcare system: protocol for project PHOENICS

BACKGROUND

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the world. Lebanon has an exceptionally high tobacco use burden. The World Health Organization endorses smoking cessation advice integrated into primary care settings as well as easily accessible and free phone-based counseling and low-cost pharmacotherapy as standard of practice for population-level tobacco dependence treatment. Although these interventions can increase access to tobacco treatment and are highly cost-effective compared with other interventions, their evidence base comes primarily from high-income countries, and they have rarely been evaluated in low- and middle-income countries. Recommended interventions are not integrated as a routine part of primary care in Lebanon, as in other low-resource settings. Addressing this evidence-to-practice gap requires research on multi-level interventions and contextual factors for implementing integrated, scalable, and sustainable cessation treatment within low-resource settings.

METHODS

The objective of this study is to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of promising multi-component interventions for implementing evidence-based tobacco treatment in primary healthcare centers within the Lebanese National Primary Healthcare Network. We will adapt and tailor an existing in-person smoking cessation program to deliver phone-based counseling to smokers in Lebanon. We will then conduct a three-arm group-randomized trial of 1500 patients across 24 clinics comparing (1) ask about tobacco use; advise to quit; assist with brief counseling (AAA) as standard care; (2) ask; advise; connect to phone-based counseling (AAC); and (3) AAC + nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We will also evaluate the implementation process to measure factors that influence implementation. Our central hypothesis is that connecting patients to phone-based counseling with NRT is the most effective alternative. This study will be guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework, supported by Proctor's framework for implementation outcomes.

DISCUSSION

The project addresses the evidence-to-practice gap in the provision of tobacco dependence treatment within low-resource settings by developing and testing contextually tailored multi-level interventions while optimizing implementation success and sustainability. This research is significant for its potential to guide the large-scale adoption of cost-effective strategies for implementing tobacco dependence treatment in low-resource settings, thereby reducing tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05628389, Registered 16 November 2022.

Nursing students' attitudes, behaviour, and knowledge toward smoking cessation: Results from a descriptive survey at a regional university

BACKGROUND

Smoking is the largest single cause of lifestyle-related preventable morbidity and mortality. Nurses form the largest cohort of health professionals and are strategically placed to implement smoking cessation interventions. However their capacity is underutilised, particularly in rural and remote areas in countries such as Australia where the incidence of smoking in is higher than average and access to healthcare is limited. One strategy to address the underutilisation of nurses in smoking cessation interventions is to include training in the university/college nursing curriculum. To effectively implement this training, it is vital to have an in-depth knowledge of student nurses' attitudes towards smoking including the role of healthcare professionals in smoking cessation, their smoking behaviour and that of their peers, and knowledge regarding smoking cessation techniques and resources.

OBJECTIVES

Investigate nursing students' attitudes, behaviour, and knowledge towards smoking cessation, determine the impact of demographics and educational experienced on these, and develop recommendations for future research and educational practice.

DESIGN

Descriptive survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Non-probability sample of undergraduate nursing students (n = 247) from a regional Australian university.

RESULTS

Significantly more participants had tried smoking cigarettes than had not (p = 0.026). There were no significant relationships between gender and smoking (p = 0.169) or e-cigarette use (p = 0.200), but a significant relationship was found between age and smoking status where older participants (48-57 years) were more likely to smoke (p < 0.001). Most participants (70 %) were supportive of public health measures to reduce cigarette smoking but felt that they lacked specific knowledge to assist their patients to cease smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Within education there needs to be an emphasis on the central role that nurses play in smoking cessation with a greater focus on training nursing students about smoking cessation strategies and resources. There is also a need to ensure that students know it falls within their duty of care to address smoking cessation with patients.

Hospitalised Smokers' and Staff Perspectives of Inpatient Smoking Cessation Interventions and Impact on Smokers' Quality of Life: An Integrative Review of the Qualitative Literature

Aim

To identify, integrate, and appraise the evidence on hospitalised smokers' and staff perspectives of inpatient smoking cessation interventions and the impact on smokers' quality of life.

Design

The integrative review method was used to present hospitalised smokers' and staff perspectives of inpatient smoking cessation interventions. Search Method. This integrative review consisted of a comprehensive search on smoking cessation interventions that take place during an inpatient admission to hospital for adults (> age 18 years) of the following online databases: Ovid Medline, Joanna Briggs Institute, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane, Google Scholar, PEDro, and Scopus. The search strategy was inclusive of peer-reviewed studies limited to the English language or translated to English. A search of grey literature and manual searching of reference lists was also conducted to identify further studies not identified in the online database search. All studies that produced any qualitative data (i.e., qualitative, mixed methods, and surveys) on inpatient-initiated smoking cessation programs were included. Outcomes of interest are included but were not limited to education, counselling, and the use of pharmacotherapy. Studies undertaken in the psychiatric, adolescent, and paediatric settings were excluded.

Results

The key findings from this integrative review included positive evaluations from both patients and staff involved in inpatient smoking cessation interventions, reporting that hospitalisation was an appropriate opportunity to address smoking cessation. A number of facilitators and barriers to inpatient smoking cessation interventions included creating a supportive patient-centred environment and consideration of the cost of nicotine replacement therapy and time to deliver inpatient smoking cessation interventions. Recommendations/preferences for future inpatient smoking cessation interventions included the use of a program champion and ongoing education to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention, and despite the cost of nicotine replacement therapy being identified as a potential barrier, it was identified as a preference for most patients. Although quality of life was only evaluated in two studies, statistically significant improvements were identified in both.

Conclusion

This qualitative integrative review provides further insight into both clinician and patient participants' perspectives on inpatient smoking cessation interventions. Overall, they are seen to produce positive benefits, and staff training appears to be an effective means for service delivery. However, insufficient time and lack of resources or expertise appear to be consistent barriers to the delivery of these services, so they should be considered when planning the implementation of an inpatient smoking cessation intervention.

Could international human rights obligations motivate countries to implement tobacco cessation support?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) seeks to realize the right to health through national tobacco control policies. However, few states have met their obligations under Article 14 of the FCTC to develop evidence-based policies to support tobacco cessation. This article examines how human rights obligations could provide a legal and moral basis for states to implement greater support for individuals to overcome their addiction to tobacco.

ANALYSIS

The United Nations (UN) has a well-established legal framework for promoting human rights, looking to the right to health to realize health autonomy. Where addiction undermines autonomy, it is widely acknowledged that addiction presents a significant barrier to cessation for individuals who use tobacco, undermining the right to health. The UN human rights system could, therefore, provide a complementary basis for monitoring state obligations under Article 14 of the FCTC, identifying challenges to FCTC implementation and motivating states to support tobacco cessation.

CONCLUSIONS

The United Nations' human rights system offers a mechanism that could be used to monitor Framework Convention on Tobacco Control implementation in national policy, facilitating accountability for the progressive realization of cessation support.

Does combined training of biofeedback and neurofeedback affect smoking status, behavior, and longitudinal brain plasticity?

Introduction: Investigations of biofeedback (BF) and neurofeedback (NF) training for nicotine addiction have been long documented to lead to positive gains in smoking status, behavior and to changes in brain activity. We aimed to: (a) evaluate a multi-visit combined BF/NF intervention as an alternative smoking cessation approach, (b) validate training-induced feedback learning, and (c) document effects on resting-state functional connectivity networks (rsFCN); considering gender and degree of nicotine dependence in a longitudinal design. Methods: We analyzed clinical, behavioral, and electrophysiological data from 17 smokers who completed five BF and 20 NF sessions and three evaluation stages. Possible neuroplastic effects were explored comparing whole-brain rsFCN by phase-lag index (PLI) for different brain rhythms. PLI connections with significant change across time were investigated according to different resting-state networks (RSNs). Results: Improvements in smoking status were observed as exhaled carbon monoxide levels, Total Oxidative Stress, and Fageström scores decreased while Vitamin E levels increased across time. BF/NF promoted gains in anxiety, self-esteem, and several aspects of cognitive performance. BF learning in temperature enhancement was observed within sessions. NF learning in theta/alpha ratio increase was achieved across baselines and within sessions. PLI network connections significantly changed across time mainly between or within visual, default mode and frontoparietal networks in theta and alpha rhythms, while beta band RSNs mostly changed significantly after BF sessions. Discussion: Combined BF/NF training positively affects the clinical and behavioral status of smokers, displays benefit in smoking harm reduction, plays a neuroprotective role, leads to learning effects and to positive reorganization of RSNs across time. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02991781.

Spoiled for Choice? Personalized Recommendation for Healthcare Decisions: A Multiarmed Bandit Approach

Choice overload is a common problem in many online settings, including healthcare. Online healthcare platforms tend to provide a large variety of behavior intervention information or programs to help individuals modify their lifestyles to improve wellness. However, having too many options can significantly increase searching cost, prevent users from discovering the truly relevant interventions, and harm users’ long-term healthcare decision-making efficiency. This motivates us to propose a personalized healthcare recommendation system to provide tailored support for individuals’ intervention participation. The proposed framework, a deep-learning and diversity-enhanced multiarmed bandit (DLDE-MAB), integrates several predictive and prescriptive analytics components to combat the unique challenges presented in the healthcare recommendation setting. It leverages online machine learning to provide adaptive and real-time support, a theory-guided diversity promotion scheme to cover multiple healthcare needs, and deep learning to further enhance dynamic context representation. Through extensive experiments, we show that the proposed framework outperforms various competing models in terms of its adaptivity to data dynamics, diversity, and uncertainty. The proposed model and evaluation results provide important implications for business intelligence and personalized, contextualized, and agile healthcare decision making.

Predisposing, Reinforcing, and Enabling Factors of Nicotine Dependence Among Young Adults in a Rural Community

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling factors of nicotine dependence among young adults in a rural community.

STUDY DESIGN

A quantitative, predictive-correlational cross-sectional study was done among 190 young adults in a rural community utilizing compact segmental sampling.

METHODS

Data were collected from August to October 2018 utilizing a validated robotfoto, adapted determinants of smoking questionnaire, and Fagerström test to assess nicotine dependence. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used in predicting the relationship between the predictors and nicotine dependence.

RESULTS

Reinforcing and enabling factors influenced nicotine dependency. The influence of other relatives (β = .179, p = .023) and radio advertisements (β = -.224, p = .008) as well as availability (access) to cigarettes (β = .228, p = .003) were significant predictors of nicotine dependency in the rural community.

CONCLUSION

Identified predictors can help form policies that can help address the availability of cigarettes and advertisements (radio) that can influence nicotine dependence among young adults in a rural community. Furthermore, the influence of other relatives (extended family) can be a factor that can increase the development of nicotine dependence.

[Adaptation and validation of an instrument to evaluate the competence on a Brief Tobacco Intervention. BTI-Prof©]

OBJECTIVE

Adaptation and validation of the BTI-St© to assess the level of competence in brief tobacco intervention in general practitioners and nurses in Primary Health Care.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of adaptation and psychometric validation of a criterion-referenced test.

SETTING

Primary Health Care.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred fifty-five general practitioners and nurses working at Primary Health Care.

INTERVENTIONS

Three clinical scenarios were designed. Using an online platform, participants first viewed each scenario in which brief tobacco intervention was given. Health professional had to assess whether or not the scenarios were carried out in accordance with the 5A+5R model.

MAIN MEASURES

Competence in brief tobacco intervention measured by the BTI-Prof©.

RESULTS

Results related to reliability were obtained through Kuder-Richardson coefficient, being for scenario 1, 0.880, for scenario 2, 0.829, and for scenario 3, 0.826. The test-retest shows adequate temporal stability: intraclass correlation coefficient for scenario 1 0.857 (95% CI 0.734-0.923), p<0.0001, for scenario 2 0.829 (95% CI 0.676-0.909), p<0.001, and for scenario 3 0.869 (95% CI 0.76-0.928), p<0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

The BTI-Prof© is a robust tool with adequate psychometric properties to assess competence in brief tobacco intervention in Primary Health Care general practitioners and nurses.

Accelerating integration of tobacco use treatment in the context of lung cancer screening: Relevance and application of implementation science to achieving policy and practice

Based on the findings from the National Lung Screening Trial, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual low dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening (LCS) among high-risk adults. Approximately 54% of individuals seeking LCS report current cigarette smoking. Effective smoking cessation interventions, offered at the time of LCS, enhances the health benefits of screening that are attributable to reductions in lung cancer overall and tobacco-related mortality. Considering these data, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) 2015 decision to cover LCS with LDCT required that radiology imaging facilities make tobacco cessation interventions available for people who smoke. In February 2022, CMS reversed their 2015 coverage requirement for delivering tobacco use treatment at the time of LDCT; CMS retained the requirement for counseling during the shared decision-making visit prior to the exam. The policy change does not diminish the importance of offering high-quality tobacco cessation services in conjunction with routine LDCT for LCS. However, LCS programs face a range of barriers to implementing tobacco use treatment in their settings. As a result, implementation has lagged. Closing the "evidence to practice" gap is the focus of implementation science, a field that offers a set of rigorous methods and a systematic approach to identifying and overcoming contextual barriers to implementing evidence-based guidelines in a range of clinical settings. In this paper, we describe how implementation science frameworks and methods can be used to help guide LCS programs in their efforts to integrate tobacco use treatment and discuss policy changes needed to further facilitate the delivery of TUT as an essential component of the LCS process.

Associations between sociodemographic factors and receiving "ask and advise" services from healthcare providers in India: analysis of the national GATS-2 dataset

Background

India is home to about 12% of the world's tobacco users, with about 1.35 million tobacco-related deaths each year. The morbidity and mortality rates are socially patterned based on gender, rural vs. urban residence, education, and other factors. Following the World Health Organization's guidance, it is critical to offer tobacco users support for cessation as a complement to policy and environmental changes. Such guidance is typically unavailable in low-resource systems, despite the potential for population-level impact. Additionally, service delivery for tobacco control tends to be patterned by sociodemographic factors. To understand current activity in this area, we assessed the percentage of daily tobacco users being asked about tobacco use and advised to quit by a healthcare provider. We also examined social patterning of receipt of services (related to by rural vs. urban residence, age, gender, education, caste, and wealth).

Methods

We analyzed cross-sectional data from India's 2016-2017 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), a nationally representative survey. Among 74,037 respondents, about 25% were daily users of smoked and/or smokeless tobacco. We examined rates of being asked and advised about tobacco use overall and based on rural vs. urban residence, age, gender, education, caste, and wealth. We also conducted multivariate logistic regression to assess the association of demographic and socioeconomic conditions with participants' receipt of “ask and advise” services.

Results

Nationally, among daily tobacco users, we found low rates of individuals reporting being asked about tobacco use or advised to quit by a healthcare provider (22% and 19%, respectively). Being asked and advised about tobacco use was patterned by age, gender, education, caste, and wealth in our final regression model.

Conclusions

This study offers a helpful starting point in identifying opportunities to address a critical service delivery gap in India. Given the existing burden on the public health and health systems, scale-up will require innovative, resource-appropriate solutions. The findings also point to the need to center equity in the design and scale-up of tobacco cessation supports so that marginalized and underserved groups will have equitable access to these critical services.

Automated Digital Interventions and Smoking Cessation: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Relating Efficiency to a Psychological Theory of Intervention Perspective

BACKGROUND

Smoking remains a highly significant preventable global public health problem. In this context, digital interventions offer great advantages in terms of a lack of biological side effects, possibility of automatic delivery, and consequent human resource savings relative to traditional interventions. Such interventions have been studied in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) but have not been systematically reviewed with the inclusion of text-based and multiplatform-based interventions. In addition, this area has not been evaluated from the perspective of the psychological theoretical basis of intervention.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to assess the efficiency of digital interventions in RCT studies of smoking cessation and to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies used for digital interventions.

METHODS

An electronic search of RCTs was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library by June 30, 2021. Eligible studies had to compare automated digital intervention (ADI) to the use of a self-help guideline or no intervention. Participants were current smokers (aged 16 years or older). As the main outcome, abstinence after endpoint was extracted from the studies. Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to assess the efficiency of ADIs. Metaregressions were conducted to assess the relationship between intervention theory and effectiveness.

RESULTS

A total of 19 trials (15,472 participants) were included in the analysis. The overall abstinence rate (95% CI) at the endpoint was 17.8% (17.0-18.7). The overall risk ratio of the intervention group compared to the controls at the endpoint was 17.8% (17.0-18.7). Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (ROB 2) suggested that most of the studies had a low risk of bias (56.3%). Psychological theory-related constructs or predictors, which refer to other theory-based concepts (rather than only behavioral theory) such as craving or anxiety, are associated with effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that ADI had a clear positive effect compared to self-help guidelines or to no intervention, and effectiveness was associated with theory-related constructs or predictors. ADIs should be promoted by policy makers and clinical practitioners to address the huge gap between the need for smoking cessation and availability of traditional treatment resources. Possible increases in ADI efficiency may be achieved by optimally integrating psychotherapeutic theories and techniques.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021256593; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=256593.

Update on new forms of tobacco use

Smoking remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Because of its clear influence on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, it is an important factor in internal medicine consultations. Although the rate of smoking cessation has been increasing in recent years, there is a percentage of patients who continue to smoke because they are unable or unwilling to quit, despite having tried existing pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. For this group of patients there are strategies based on interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of smoking without the need for complete cessation. In this review it is shown that due to the absence of combustion of organic matter in conventional cigarettes, snus, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products generate significantly lower levels of toxic substances.

Adult smokers' discussions about vaping with health professionals and subsequent behavior change: a cohort study

AIMS

To measure the prevalence and changes in smokers' discussions with health professionals (HPs) about nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and HPs' recommendations about NVPs between 2016 and 2020, and their associations with tobacco product use transitions.

DESIGN

Cohort study using multinomial logistic regression analyses on data from waves 1 (2016), 2 (2018) and 3 (2020) from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Surveys.

SETTING

Four countries with varying NVP regulatory environments: 'most restrictive' (Australia), 'somewhat restrictive' (Canada) and 'less restrictive' (England and the United States).

PARTICIPANTS

Adult exclusive daily smokers who did not report NVP use at the time of their baseline survey and had visited a HP in the last 12-24 months. Prevalence data came from 4125, 4503 and 4277 respondents, respectively, for each year. Longitudinal data were from 4859 respondents who participated in at least two consecutive surveys.

MEASUREMENTS

Prevalence of self-reported discussions with HPs and recommendations from HPs about NVPs. Longitudinal transitions from smoking to vaping (either exclusively or concurrently with smoking) and quitting (regardless of NVP uptake).

FINDINGS

The prevalence of NVP discussions was low among countries with varying regulatory environments and study waves (range = 1.4-6.2%). In 2020, a low percentage of smokers who discussed NVPs with a HP reported that their HPs recommended they use NVPs in the United States (14.7%), Australia (20.2%), Canada (25.7%), with a higher percentage in England (55.7%) where clinical guidelines for smoking cessation include NVPs. Compared with 12.0% of smokers who reported no discussion, 37.0% of those whose HPs recommended NVPs transitioned to vaping at follow-up. Transition to quitting was 9.6% with HPs' recommendation of NVPs versus 13.5% without discussion, a non-significant difference.

CONCLUSIONS

In Australia, Canada, England and the United States between 2016 and 2020, health professionals' discussions with smokers about nicotine vaping products (NVPs) were infrequent. NVP discussions were associated with NVP uptake, but not with quitting smoking.

Adapting a tobacco cessation treatment intervention and implementation strategies to enhance implementation effectiveness and clinical outcomes in the context of HIV care in Vietnam: a case study

BACKGROUND

Smoking rates remain high in Vietnam, particularly among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), but tobacco cessation services are not available in outpatient HIV clinics (OPCs). The research team is conducting a type II hybrid randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the cost-effectiveness of three tobacco cessation interventions among PLWH receiving care in HIV clinics in Vietnam. The study is simultaneously evaluating the implementation processes and outcomes of strategies aimed at increasing the implementation of tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) in the context of HIV care. This paper describes the systematic, theory-driven process of adapting intervention components and implementation strategies with demonstrated effectiveness in high-income countries, and more recently in Vietnam, to a new population (i.e., PLWH) and new clinical setting, prior to launching the trial.

METHODS

Data collection and analyses were guided by two implementation science frameworks and the socio-ecological model. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 health care providers and 24 patients in three OPCs. Workflow analyses were conducted in each OPC. Qualitative data were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis procedures. Based on findings, components of the intervention and implementation strategies were adapted, followed by a 3-month pilot study in one OPC with 16 patients randomized to one of two intervention arms.

RESULTS

The primary adaptations included modifying the TDT intervention counseling content to address barriers to quitting among PLWH and Vietnamese sociocultural norms that support smoking cessation. Implementation strategies (i.e., training and system changes) were adapted to respond to provider- and clinic-level determinants of implementation effectiveness (e.g., knowledge gaps, OPC resource constraints, staffing structure, compatibility).

CONCLUSIONS

Adaptations were facilitated through a mixed method, stakeholder (patient and health care provider, district health leader)-engaged evaluation of context-specific influences on intervention and implementation effectiveness. This data-driven approach to refining and adapting components aimed to optimize intervention effectiveness and implementation in the context of HIV care. Balancing pragmatism with rigor through the use of rapid analysis procedures and multiple methods increased the feasibility of the adaptation process.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05162911 . Registered on December 16, 2021.

The estimated influence of assumed physicians' advice for tobacco smoking cessation among current smokers in Shanghai, China: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Evidence indicates that physicians' smoking cessation advice is significant for tobacco control, which is an impetus to encourage smoking cessation among smokers, but the estimated influence of physicians' smoking cessation advice on smokers' intention to quit is limited in Shanghai, China.

METHODS

We enrolled 1104 participants who were current smokers in the SJ (Songjiang) and FX (Fengxian) districts in Shanghai in 2021. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect data and SAS 9.4 was used for data analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the influence of the assumed physicians' advice for smoking cessation on current smokers' smoking cessation plan.

RESULTS

A total of 1104 participants provided information of which 914 were male smokers (82.8%) and 190 (17.2%) were female smokers. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that female smokers (OR=2.47; 95% CI: 1.66-3.68), smokers with at least 1 type of non-communicable disease (OR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.42-3.07), smoking intensity <20 cigarettes/day (OR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.22-2.17), with personal tobacco burden less than 20% (OR=1.52; 95% CI: 1.10-2.13), exposed to secondhand smoke (OR=1.99; 95% CI:1.44-2.76), and previous smoking cessation attempt (OR=4.43; 95% CI: 3.23-6.08), were more likely to report an intent to quit smoking. Moreover, approximately 50% of participants without a plan to quit in a year had also reported their intention to quit smoking with the presumption that the physicians would advise them to quit, irrespective of their sex, age, NCD status and secondhand tobacco smoke exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians' cessation advice could promote smokers to consider stopping smoking. The reported cessation intention was higher among female smokers, and smokers with NCD, lower smoking intensity and burden, with smoking cessation attempts, all of which could be incorporated into the implementation of tobacco control measures in the future in Shanghai.

Case for investment in tobacco cessation: a population-based analysis in low- and middle-income countries

This study aimed to estimate the return on investments of three population-level tobacco cessation strategies and three pharmacological interventions. The analysis included 124 low- and middle-income countries, and assumed a 10-year investment period (2021–2030). The results indicate that all six cessation programmes could help about 152 million tobacco users quit and save 2.7 million lives during 2021–2030. If quitters were followed until 65 years of age, 16 million lives could be saved from quitting. The combined investment cost was estimated at 1.68 United States dollars (US$) per capita a year, or US$ 115 billion over the period 2021–2030, with Caribbean countries showing the lowest investment cost at US$ 0.50 per capita a year. Return on investments was estimated at 0.79 (at the end of 2030) and 7.50 if benefits were assessed by the time quitters reach the age of 65 years. Disaggregated results by country income level and region also showed a return on investments less than 1.0 in the short term and greater than 1.0 in the medium-to-long term. In all countries, population-level interventions were less expensive and yielded a return on investments greater than 1.0 in the short and long term, with investment cost estimated at US$ 0.21 per capita a year, or US$ 14.3 billion over 2021–2030. Pharmacological interventions were more expensive and became cost beneficial over a longer time. These results are likely conservative and provide support for a phased approach implementing population-level strategies first, where most countries would reach break-even before 2030.

Progress, challenges and the need to set concrete goals in the global tobacco endgame

The tobacco endgame is rapidly moving from aspirational and theoretical toward a concrete and achievable goal and, in some cases, enacted policy. Endgame policies differ from traditional tobacco control measures by explicitly aiming to permanently end, rather than simply minimize, tobacco use. The purpose of this paper is to outline recent progress made in the tobacco endgame, its relationship to existing tobacco control policies, the challenges and how endgame planning can be adapted to different tobacco control contexts. Examples of implemented policies in three cities in the United States and national policies in the Netherlands and New Zealand are outlined, as well as recent endgame planning developments in Europe. Justifications for integrating endgame targets into tobacco control policy and the need to set concrete time frames are discussed, including planning for ending the sale of tobacco products. Tobacco endgame planning must consider the jurisdiction-specific tobacco control context, including the current prevalence of tobacco use, existing policies, implementation of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and public support. However, the current tobacco control context should not determine whether endgame planning should happen, but rather how and when different endgame approaches can occur. Potential challenges include legal challenges, the contested role of e-cigarettes and the tobacco industry’s attempt to co-opt the rhetoric of smoke-free policies. While acknowledging the different views regarding e-cigarettes and other products, we argue for a contractionary approach to the tobacco product market. The tobacco control community should capitalize on the growing theoretical and empirical evidence, political will and public support for the tobacco endgame, and set concrete goals for finally ending the tobacco epidemic.

How to persuade more primary care professionals to adopt a valued smoking cessation referral aid: a cross-sectional study of facilitators and barriers

BACKGROUND

To study the factors associated with the intention of primary care professionals (PCPs) to use or not use a referral aid (RA) for selecting an evidence-based smoking cessation intervention (EBSCI).

METHODS

Participants (n = 85) were recruited from June to September 2020 to complete an online questionnaire based on the I-Change Model to assess the factors associated with the adoption of RA. The differences between PCPs with (n = 37) and without (n = 48) the intention to adopt in terms of demographics, motivational factors, and post-motivational factors were subsequently assessed. Correlation and logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the factors associated with the intention to adopt.

RESULTS

Both groups indicated that they highly appreciated the RA. However, PCPs without the intention to adopt expressed a more negative attitude towards the RA, experienced less social support, showed low self-efficacy, and encountered barriers such as lack of time and skills. The factors most strongly associated with the intention to adopt were advantages, disadvantages, self-efficacy, less barriers, working in a solo practice and age.

CONCLUSIONS

The adoption of RA can be facilitated in two ways. The first one is by increasing the added value of the tool through a second round of co-creation focusing on the adoptability of the RA in practice. The second approach is by communicating the added value of referring to EBSCIS and thereby using the RA by implementing it in smoking cessation training for PCPs, which could also help to improve the attitude, social support, self-efficacy, and perceived skills in terms of RA usage among PCPs.

IMPACT

This study is the first work in the Netherlands to investigate the willingness of PCPs to actively refer patients to other EBSCIs in addition to providing face-to-face counseling themselves.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NL7020, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/7020 ).

The effect of a real-world intervention for smoking cessation in Adults with and without comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders: A one-year follow-up study

This study evaluated short-term abstinence and prolonged abstinence following a real-world intervention for smoking cessation in a sample of 1,213 adults with nicotine dependence only (ND), nicotine dependence and past history of another substance use disorder (ND-SUD), nicotine dependence and a non-substance use mental health disorder (ND-MD), or nicotine dependence and comorbid substance use disorder and mental health disorder (ND-SUMD). Participants received six sessions of group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and pharmacotherapy. Abstinence was assessed following completion of treatment and at 12-month follow-up. Logistic regression and survival analyses were performed. Participants who were lost to follow-up were included as censored and baseline differences were used as covariates in multivariate analyses. Rates of short-term abstinence and prolonged abstinence were significantly different between ND and ND-SUMD (20.9% versus 36.5%; 14.9% versus 22.4%, respectively). Among participants with follow-up, 37.7% were abstinent at 12-month. Diagnostic group was not associated with abstinence at 12-month follow-up after adjusting for nicotine dependence severity, which was associated with lower likelihood of abstinence (HR=1.11;95%CI:1.03-1.19). CBT plus pharmacotherapy had a positive effect on smoking cessation among the participants in this study. Special attention should be given to adults with more severe nicotine dependence and comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Prevalence of use and real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation aids during the COVID-19 pandemic: a representative study of smokers in England

AIM

To measure whether the prevalence of use and real-world effectiveness of different smoking cessation aids has changed in England since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

DESIGN

Representative monthly cross-sectional surveys, January 2015-June 2021.

SETTING

England.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 7300 adults (≥18 y) who had smoked within the previous 12 months and had made ≥1 quit attempt during that period.

MEASUREMENTS

The independent variable was the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-pandemic [January 2015-February 2020] vs pandemic [April 2020-June 2021]). We analysed (i) the association between the pandemic period and self-reported use (vs non-use) during the most recent quit attempt of: prescription medication (nicotine replacement therapy [NRT]/varenicline/bupropion), NRT bought over-the-counter, e-cigarettes, traditional behavioural support and traditional remote support (telephone support/written self-help materials/websites) and (ii) the interaction between the pandemic period and use of these cessation aids on self-reported abstinence from quit date to survey. Covariates included age, sex, social grade, level of cigarette addiction and characteristics related to the quit attempt.

FINDINGS

After adjustment for secular trends, there was a significant increase from the pre-pandemic to pandemic period in the prevalence of use of traditional remote support by past-year smokers in a quit attempt (OR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.42-3.33); specifically telephone support (OR = 7.16; 95% CI, 2.19-23.45) and websites (OR = 2.39; 95% CI, 1.41-4.08). There was also an increase in the prevalence of use of prescription medication (OR = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.08-2.00); specifically varenicline (OR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09-2.52). There were no significant changes in prevalence of use of other cessation aids after adjustment for secular trends. People who reported using prescription medication (OR = 1.41; 95% CI, 1.09-1.84) and e-cigarettes (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.62-2.16) had greater odds of reporting abstinence than people who did not. There were no significant interactions between the pandemic period and use of any cessation aid on abstinence, after adjustment for covariates and use of the other aids, although data were insensitive to distinguish no change from meaningful modest (OR = 1.34) effects (Bayes factors 0.72-1.98).

CONCLUSIONS

In England, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in use of remote support for smoking cessation and varenicline by smokers in a quit attempt up to June 2021. The data were inconclusive regarding an association between the pandemic and changes in the real-world effectiveness of popular smoking cessation aids.

Cost-utility of cytisine for smoking cessation over and above behavioural support in people with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis: an economic evaluation of a multicentre randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To assess the cost-effectiveness of cytisine over and above brief behavioural support (BS) for smoking cessation among patients who are newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in low-income and middle-income countries.

DESIGN

An incremental cost-utility analysis was undertaken alongside a 12-month, double-blind, two-arm, individually randomised controlled trial from a public/voluntary healthcare sector perspective with the primary endpoint at 6 months post randomisation.

SETTING

Seventeen subdistrict hospitals in Bangladesh and 15 secondary care hospitals in Pakistan.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults (aged ≥18 years in Bangladesh and ≥15 years in Pakistan) with pulmonary TB diagnosed within the last 4 weeks who smoked tobacco daily (n=2472).

INTERVENTIONS

Two brief BS sessions with a trained TB health worker were offered to all participants. Participants in the intervention arm (n=1239) were given cytisine (25-day course) while those in the control arm (n=1233) were given placebo. No significant difference was found between arms in 6-month abstinence.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Costs of cytisine and BS sessions were estimated based on research team records. TB treatment costs were estimated based on TB registry records. Additional smoking cessation and healthcare costs and EQ-5D-5L data were collected at baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Costs were presented in purchasing power parity (PPP) adjusted US dollars (US$). Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were derived from the EQ-5D-5L. Incremental total costs and incremental QALYs were estimated using regressions adjusting for respective baseline values and other baseline covariates. Uncertainty was assessed using bootstrapping.

RESULTS

Mean total costs were PPP US$57.74 (95% CI 49.40 to 83.36) higher in the cytisine arm than in the placebo arm while the mean QALYs were -0.001 (95% CI -0.004 to 0.002) lower over 6 months. The cytisine arm was dominated by the placebo arm.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytisine plus BS for smoking cessation among patients with TB was not cost-effective compared with placebo plus BS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN43811467.

Role of Local Evidence in Transferring Evidence-Based Interventions to Low- and Middle-Income Country Settings: Application to Global Cancer Prevention and Control

PURPOSE

Although the global burden of cancer falls increasingly on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), much of the evidence for cancer prevention and control comes from high-income countries and may not be directly applicable to LMIC settings. In this paper, we focus on the following question: When the majority of the evidence supporting an evidence-based intervention or implementation strategy comes from high-income countries, what local, contextual evidence is needed when transferring and adapting an intervention or strategy to a specific LMIC setting?

METHODS

We draw on an existing framework (the Population, Intervention, Environment, Transfer-T process model) for assessing transferability of interventions between distinct settings and apply the model to two case studies as learning examples involving implementation of tobacco use treatment guidelines and self sampling for human papillomavirus DNA in cervical cancer screening.

RESULTS

These two case studies illustrate how researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and consumers may approach the need for local evidence from different perspectives and with different priorities. As uses and expectations around local evidence may be different for different groups, aligning these priorities through multistakeholder engagement in which all parties participate in defining the questions and cocreating the solutions is critical, along with promoting standardized reporting of contextual factors.

CONCLUSION

Local, contextual evidence can be important for both researchers and practitioners, and its absence may hinder translation of research and implementation efforts across different settings. However, it is essential for researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders to be able to clearly articulate the type of data needed and why it is important. In particular, where resources are limited, evidence generation should be prioritized to address real needs and gaps in knowledge.

Enhancing Tobacco Treatment for Medicaid Recipients

OBJECTIVE

Medicaid recipients are vulnerable to increased morbidity and mortality secondary to high tobacco use prevalence and barriers to accessing tobacco treatment. The purpose of the pilot study was to explore managed care administrators' perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to tobacco treatment for Medicaid recipients.

METHODS

Focus groups with key informants (n = 14) from managed care organizations were conducted in fall 2018. Participants included case, integrated care, quality and field care managers, and individuals working in provider and network relations.

RESULTS

Facilitators to tobacco treatment were universal quality reporting requirements, access to medications, and the role of case management in identifying and engaging tobacco users in treatment. Barriers included bias regarding smokers' ability to quit, communication challenges, and competing priorities.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis provided data to support the development of a policy brief and recommendations to the Department for Medicaid Services for enhancing tobacco dependence treatment.

Policy Analysis for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Aged Care

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze national influenza infection control policy documents within aged care settings by identifying the consistencies, inconsistencies, and gaps with the current evidence and by evaluating methodological quality. Aged care providers can use these findings to identify their policy documents' strengths and weaknesses.

DESIGN

A quality and content analysis of national level policy documents.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Aged care settings rely on national agencies' policy recommendations to control and prevent outbreaks. There is limited research on the effectiveness of control measures to prevent and treat influenza within aged care settings. Because of the complexities around aged care governance, the primary responsibility in developing a comprehensive facility-level, infection-prevention policy, falls to the providers.

METHODS

The analysis was conducted using the (1) International Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation assessment tool, containing 23 items across 6 domains; and the (2) Influenza Related Control Measures in Aged Care settings checklist, developed by the authors, with 82 recommendations covering: medical interventions, nonmedical interventions, and physical layout.

RESULTS

There were 19 documents from 9 different high-income countries, with a moderately high methodological quality in general. The quality assessment's average score was 40.2% (95% CI 31.9%-44.7%). "Stakeholder involvement" ranked third, and "Editorial independence" and "Rigor of development" had the lowest average scores across all domains. The content analysis' average score was 37.2% (95% CI 10.5%-21.5%). The highest scoring document (59.1%) included term definitions, cited evidence for recommendations, and clear measurable instructions. "Physical Layout" had the least coverage and averaged 21.9% (95% CI 4.2%-37.5%), which shows a substantial gap in built environment recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Existing policy documents vary in their comprehensiveness. The higher scoring documents provide an ideal model for providers. The checklist tools can be used to assess and enhance documents. Further research on document end-user evaluation would be useful, as there is room for improvement in methodological quality and coverage of recommendation coverage, especially related to physical layout.

Vaccination and modern management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) carries a tremendous societal and individual burden, posing significant challenges for public health systems worldwide due to its high morbidity and mortality. Due to aging and multimorbidity but also in the wake of important progress in deciphering the heterogeneous disease endotypes, an individualized approach to the prevention and management of COPD is necessary.

AREAS COVERED

This article tackles relevant immunization strategies that are available or still under development with a focus on the latest evidence but also controversies around different regional immunization approaches. Further, we present the crossover between chronic lung inflammation and lung microbiome disturbance as well as its role in delineating COPD endotypes. Moreover, the article attempts to underline endotype-specific treatment approaches. Lastly, we highlight non-pharmacologic prevention and management programs in view of the challenges and opportunities of the COVID-19 era.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite the remaining challenges, personalized medicine has the potential to offer tailored approaches to prevention and therapy and promises to improve the care of patients living with COPD.

The Stop-tabac smartphone application for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial

AIMS

To test whether the Stop-tabac smartphone application (app) increased smoking cessation rates.

DESIGN

A two-arm, parallel-group, individually randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 5293 daily smokers (Stop-tabac = 2639, control = 2654) enrolled on app stores and on the internet in 2019-20, who lived in France or Switzerland.

INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR

The Stop-tabac application includes immediate feedback during episodes of craving and withdrawal; individually tailored counseling messages with notifications sent during 6 months; a discussion forum; fact sheets; modules on nicotine replacement therapy and e-cigarettes; and calculators of cigarettes not smoked, money saved and days of life gained since quitting. The control application included five brief pages and calculators as above.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome: self-reported smoking cessation after 6 months (no puff of tobacco in the past 4 weeks), with non-responders counted as smokers.

SECONDARY OUTCOME

self-reported use of nicotine medications.

FINDINGS

Participants were aged 36 years on average; 66% were women who smoked 15 cigarettes/day, and 64% screened positive for depression. Stop-tabac participants used the app over a longer period than control participants (23 versus 11 days, P < 0.001). Smoking cessation rates after 6 months were 9.9% in the Stop-tabac group versus 10.3% in the control group (odds ratio = 0.96, 95% confidence interval = 0.80-1.45, P = 0.63). Rates of use of nicotine medications after entry in the study were 38 versus 30% after 6 months (χ²  = 8.3, P = 0.004) in the Stop-tabac and control groups. After 6 months, 26% of participants in the Stop-tabac group and 8% in the control group said that the app helped them 'a lot' or 'enormously' to quit smoking (χ²  =  113, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In smokers enrolled on the app stores and the internet, allocation to the Stop-tabac smoking cessation app did not increase smoking cessation rates, but increased rates of use of nicotine medications.

A smoking quitline integrated with clinician counselling at outpatient health facilities in Vietnam: a single-arm prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Limited evidence is available about the combination of multiple smoking cessation modalities in low- and middle-income countries. The study aimed to assess the feasibility of a smoking cessation intervention that integrates follow-up counselling phone calls and scheduled text messages with brief advice from physicians in Vietnam.

METHODS

This was a single-arm intervention study. Smokers were referred to the study Quitline after brief advice by physicians at three rural district hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. Following referral, participants received nine counselling phone calls in 12 months and a scheduled text message service that lasted for three months. Participants who reported smoking cessation for at least 30 days at the 12-month follow-up were invited for a urinary cotinine test to confirm cessation.

RESULTS

The Quitline centre had 431 referrals from participating hospitals. Among them, 221 (51.3%) were enrolled. After the baseline phone call, 141 (63.8%) participated in all 4 follow-up calls within the first month and 117 (52.9%) participated in all phone calls in 12 months. The median number of successful phone calls was 8 (interquartile range: 6 - 8). At the end of the study, 90 (40.7%) self-reported abstinence from smoking over the previous 30 days. Among them, 22 (24.4%) submitted a sample for cotinine test, of which 13 (59.1% of those tested) returned a negative result. The proportion of biochemically-verified quitters was 5.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

The integration of brief advice and referral from healthcare facilities, Quitline counselling phone calls, and scheduled text messaging was feasible in rural health facilities in northern Vietnam.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12619000554167 .

Comparison of an automated smartphone-based smoking cessation intervention versus standard quitline-delivered treatment among underserved smokers: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States. Individuals with low socioeconomic status have disproportionately high smoking rates and greater difficulty quitting smoking. Efficiently connecting underserved smokers to effective tobacco cessation programs is crucial for disease prevention and the elimination of health disparities. Smartphone-based interventions have the potential to enhance the reach and efficacy of smoking cessation treatments targeting underserved smokers, but there is little efficacy data for these interventions. In this study, we will partner with a large, local hunger-relief organization to evaluate the efficacy and economic impact of a theoretically-based, fully-automated, and interactive smartphone-based smoking cessation intervention.

METHODS

This study will consist of a 2-group randomized controlled trial. Participants (N = 500) will be recruited from a network of food distribution centers in West Central Florida and randomized to receive either Standard Treatment (ST, n = 250) or Automated Treatment (AT, n = 250). ST participants will be connected to the Florida Quitline for telephone-based treatment and will receive a 10-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT; transdermal patches and lozenges). AT participants will receive 10 weeks of NRT and a fully-automated smartphone-based intervention consisting of interactive messaging, images, and audiovisual clips. The AT intervention period will span 26 weeks, with 12 weeks of proactive content and 26 weeks of on-demand access. ST and AT participants will complete weekly 4-item assessments for 26 weeks and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up assessments. Our primary aim is to evaluate the efficacy of AT in facilitating smoking abstinence. As secondary aims, we will explore potential mediators and conduct economic evaluations to assess the cost and/or cost-effectiveness of ST vs. AT.

DISCUSSION

The overall goal of this project is to determine if AT is better at facilitating long-term smoking abstinence than ST, the more resource-intensive approach. If efficacy is established, the AT approach will be relatively easy to disseminate and for community-based organizations to scale and implement, thus helping to reduce tobacco-related health disparities.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trials Registry NCT05004662 . Registered August 13, 2021.