Instant Messaging Reinforcement for Smoking Cessation Counseling Training

NCT06374082 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HKWC-2024-179
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research aims to assess the impact of instant messaging reinforcement on the learning outcomes of smoking cessation counseling (SCC) training among master of nursing (MN) students at the University of Hong Kong. The hypotheses suggest that this reinforcement can enhance students' SCC knowledge and techniques, improve their perception of SCC, and increase their application of SCC in clinical work. The study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 1:1 allocation ratio, using WhatsApp Messenger (WhatsApp) messages for intervention and control groups. The intervention group receives messages related to SCC, while the control group receives generic mental health information. The subjects are MN students enrolled in the "Tobacco Dependency Nursing Intervention and Management" course. The study uses various tools for measurement, including Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and Providers Smoking Cessation Training Evaluation (ProSCiTE). The main outcome measures include SCC practice frequency, SCC knowledge score, SCC attitude score, and SCC practice score. Data analysis will be performed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), using descriptive statistics, intention-to-treat analysis, Chi-square and t-tests, Cohen's d for effect size, and linear mixed models. The expected results suggest that instant messaging reinforcement will enhance SCC knowledge, attitude, and practice among MN students.

Conditions

Smoking Cessation Counseling Ability; Smoking Cessation Counseling Practice

Keywords

instant messaging; nursing students; smoking cessation training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• SCC practice measurement

  Participants' SCC practice would be measured through ecological momentary assessment (EMA) by asking how many times they have performed Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange (5As) on each working day

  The EMA will be conducted every night for two weeks after 6 weeks of instant messaging reinforcement

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• SCC knowledge score

  through study completion, an average of 6 months

• SCC attitude score

  through study completion, an average of 6 months

• SCC practice score

  through study completion, an average of 6 months

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

WhatsApp messages based on smoking cessation counseling Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP)

Other: WhatsApp message

Control group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

WhatsApp messages about generic mental health information

Other: WhatsApp message

Interventions

WhatsApp message OTHER

Participants in the intervention group will receive 3 WhatsApp messages per week for six weeks after attending the standardized course training "Tobacco Dependency Nursing Intervention and Management (NURS8205)". These messages are about the core content of the course, including (1) Knowledge Themes: harmfulness of smoking and benefits of quitting, the fundamentals of nicotine addiction, smoking cessation counselling with the 5A model, and pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation; (2) Attitude Themes: nurses' role in smoking cessation and the importance of smoking cessation; and (3) Practice Themes: practical advice on counseling techniques, communication skills by motivational interviewing, local smoking cessation resources for referral. Participants in the control group will receive 3 WhatsApp messages about generic mental health information per week for six weeks after attending the standardized course training "Tobacco Dependency Nursing Intervention and Management (NURS8205)".

Control group; Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• MN students (1 or 2 years)
• Able to access WhatsApp and receive messages

You may not qualify if:

• Currently attending any other SCC training program other than this course

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hong KongLKS Faculty of Medicine

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 00, Hong Kong

Location

Study Officials

• Derek Yee Tak CHEUNG, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Double-blinding technique will be used to conceal the allocation. Participants will not know which group they are in as placebo messages will be introduced. Using a central allocation web-based-controlled randomization, outcome assessors and data analysts will be blind to group allocation, only the principal investigator will be aware of who belongs to the control and intervention groups.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2024
• First Posted: April 18, 2024
• Study Start: April 26, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 26, 2024
• Study Completion: November 26, 2024
• Last Updated: April 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
• Time Frame: Data will be available for 10 years.
• Access Criteria: Research data and documentation will be available upon request.

Locations

HK (1)