Previous research shows a significant proportion of smokers work in full-time employment. Given that the majority of smokers do not aware of the smoking cessation services available in Hong Kong, implementing smoking cessation policy in the workplaces may assist a considerable number of smokers to stop or reduce smoking. This study aims to: 1. examine the employers' knowledge, attitudes and practices in promoting smoking cessation in workplace. 2. test the effectiveness of a brief and an intensive smoking cessation interventions to help workers stop smoking In Phase I of this study, a large scale cross-sectional survey will be conducted to 3000 corporate companies in Hong Kong. The questionnaire will examine the employers' knowledge, attitudes and practices in promoting smoking cessation in the workplaces. In Phase II, a longitudinal study will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention offered by the Department of Psychology, the University of Hong Kong. Smokers from the participating companies will be interviewed before the intervention at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at 1-, 4-, 12-, 26- and 52-week post-intervention follow-ups. The follow-up assessments will consist of a biochemical validation for the self-reported quitters who report quitting in the past 7 days via exhaled carbon monoxide and saliva cotinine concentration tests. Participants' smoking behaviour, knowledge on smoking and satisfaction of the smoking cessation services will also be evaluated. It is hypothesized that the smoking cessation intervention helps workers stop smoking. Employers' knowledge and attitudes are positively associated with the practices in promoting smoking cessation in workplace. Process evaluation: Qualitative interviews, including in-depth interviews and/or focus group will be conducted after 6-month follow-up.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
642
Intensive psychological intervention included motivation of quitting enhancement, stress management and smoking triggers, craving and relapse are used to provide smoking cessation intervention
Use motivational interview strategies through face-to-face counseling to provide smoking cessation intervention
Use motivational interview strategies through phone counseling to provide smoking cessation intervention.
Health talk provided information about hazards of tobacco (active smoking, second- and third-hand smoke), benefits of quitting smoking and methods to quit smoking.
A 26-page booklet included information about smoking and diseases, benefits of quitting smoking, methods to quit smoking, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, stress management, declaration of quitting smoking, decisional balance of smoking or quitting.
Fifteen SMS were sent to subjects included welcome messages, risk of smoking, correction of myths about smoking or quitting, quitting tips, benefits of quitting, encouragement of quitting
2/F, 61 Lung Kong Rd, Kowloon City, Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society
Hong Kong, China
Employers' KAP
A questionnaire aimed to examine the employers'/ managerial staff's knowledge, attitudes and practices in promoting smoking cessation in the workplace. The questionnaires consist of three parts: 1. Employers's knowledge was assessed by measuring the average number of correct answers on questions about smoking and quitting (Scale 1-7). 2. Employers' attitude was assessed by measuring the average number agreeing items about their willingness to support employees to quit which included implementation of measures to show support for smoking cessation in the workplace or participation in smoking cessation programme (Scale 1-17). 3. Employers' practice was assessed by the level of smoking ban in the workplace as reported by the employer. (Scale 1-4; 1: not prohibited, 2: prohibited by not strictly, 3: Strictly prohibited and 4: absolutely strictly prohibited).
Time frame: Before the health talk
Smoking Quit Rate
smoking quit rate was defined as the self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence
Time frame: 6 month follow-up and 12 month follow-up
Smoking Reduction
Reduced at least 50% of cigarette consumption
Time frame: 6 month follow-up and 12 month follow-up
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