The goal of this trial is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of chewing gum to reduce cigarette consumption and promote smoking cessation. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do participants in the intervention group report a higher reduction in cigarette consumption, improved smoking cessation outcomes, and healthier oral health than the control group? Researchers will compare chewing gum intervention to unassisted quitting to see if chewing gum works to cigarette reduction and smoking cessation. Participants will: 1. Receive very brief smoking cessation advice and booklet at baseline. 2. Take chewing gum or unassisted quitting for 1 week.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
80
All participants will receive very brief smoking cessation advice (guided by the AWARD model, assess, warning, refer, and do-it-again) with a smoking cessation information booklet onsite at baseline.
Participants in the intervention group will receive 1-2 packs of chewing gum over a 1-week intervention period.
A leaflet of usage tips for chewing gum, including 1) the potential benefits of chewing gum, 2) suitable usage time and dosage, and 3) the proper disposal of used gum.
A 2-week reminder message guided by the Love and Care approach will be delivered to participants twice a week (a total of four).
School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Validated abstinence
Biochemically validated smoking abstinence will be measured by saliva cotinine level (exhaled carbon monoxide \<4 ppm and salivary cotinine \<30 ng/ml)
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
Number of pieces used
The number of pieces used will be measured by a self-designed question: "On average, how many pieces of gum do you use every day?"
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Frequency of use
The frequency of use will be measured by a self-designed question: "In the past seven days, how many days have you used chewing gum?"
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Duration of use
Duration of use will be measured by a self-designed question: "How long do you typically use it at a time?"
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Health effect
Health effect will be measured by a self-designed question: "Have you noticed any changes in your oral health after using chewing gum?"
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
The biochemically validated smoking abstinence
Smoking abstinence is defined by exhaled CO \<4 ppm and salivary cotinine \<30ng/ml
Time frame: 6-month follow-up
Self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence
Smokers who did not smoke even a puff in the 7 days preceding the follow-up.
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month
Self-reported smoking change
Self-reported change in number of cigarettes smoked daily of at least less 50% of the baseline number
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Self-reported self-efficacy of quitting
Self-reported self-efficacy of quitting includes the perception of quitting importance, difficulty, and confidence, assessing by an item scaled with 0-10, respectively. The score of zero refers to very unimportant, very easy, or very unconfident. The score of 10 refers to very important, very difficult, or very confident, respectively. Higher score refers to higher perception of quitting importance, difficulty, and confidence.
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Self-reported quit attempt
Self-reported quit attempt in the past 7 days.
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Nicotine dependence level
The nicotine dependence level will be measured by the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater nicotine dependence.
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Smoking cessation services use
Using the smoking cessation service from hospitals or the government in Hong Kong
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
Self-reported intention to quit
Self-reported intention to quit in the next days
Time frame: 2-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups
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