The goal of this modified pilot RCT is to evaluate the effects of the intervention (online platform) on tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes and intentions on smoking among local primary 5-6 school students. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the intervention effective in improving tobacco-related knowledge (including alternative smoking products (ASPs) and tobacco control development in the world and Hong Kong)? * Is the intervention effective in improving tobacco-related attitudes and intentions (including ASPs and tobacco control development in the world and Hong Kong)? Researchers will compare the questionnaire results from students to see if intervention groups (students doing tobacco-related questions on the online quiz platform) will have better tobacco-related knowledge, higher anti-tobacco attitudes and lower intention to smoke.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
700
Students in the intervention and control arm will participate in an online quiz game on tobacco or diet related topics respectively. Each day, students could answer a maximum of 10 questions randomly selected from the respective pool of questions by the platform. The students logged onto the online platform and played the quiz competition on weekdays for 5 days.
Local primary schools
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGEffectiveness of intervention on tobacco-related knowledge (including ASPs and tobacco control development in the world and Hong Kong)
Students reported their opinions towards 5 statements in pre and post tests: \[Pre-test\] 1) Smoking causes wrinkles to form on the skin; 2) Third-hand smoke can remain on surfaces for weeks; 3) E-cigarettes can help with smoking cessation; 4) Tobacco companies aim to prevent teenagers from smoking; 5) The Hong Kong government has already banned the sale of e-cigarettes. \[Post-test\] 1\) Smoking can cause hair loss; 2) Opening windows or turning on a fan can eliminate the effects of thirdhand smoke; 3) E-cigarettes avoid the problem of secondhand smoke; 4) Tobacco companies hire influencers to promote tobacco products; 5) The Hong Kong government has already banned the sale of heated tobacco products. Students' knowledge will be assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with each item rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Item scores will be recoded as appropriate, so that higher scores consistently reflect better knowledge.
Time frame: Right before the intervention and at 8-12th days
Effectiveness of intervention on tobacco-related attitudes (including ASPs and tobacco control development in the world and Hong Kong)
Students will report their opinions towards 5 statements: 1) Smoking is a selfish behavior; 2) I hope to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke; 3) Vaping is a trend.; 4) Tobacco companies use different methods to attract people to smoke; 5) The government should prohibit people from smoking while walking. Students' attitudes will be assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with each item rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Item scores will be recoded as appropriate, so that higher scores consistently reflect more negative attitudes.
Time frame: Right before the intervention and at 8-12th days.
Effectiveness of intervention on tobacco-related intentions (including ASPs and tobacco control development in the world and Hong Kong)
Students were asked: If one of your good friends offers you a traditional cigarette, e-cigarette or heated tobacco product, ask you to have a few puffs, and no one will know about this as no more smoking in the future. Will you use them? Students' intention will be assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with each item rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Definitely no) to 5 (Definitely yes). Lower scores indicate a lower intention to use ASPs.
Time frame: Right before the intervention and at 8-12th days.
Effectiveness of intervention on SHS and THS exposure at home
Students were asked: In the past 7 days, how many days (0-7) 1) was someone smoking next to you when you were at home? 2) do you smell secondhand smoke drifting in from outside when you were at home? 3) was someone smoking next to you when you were outside home? 4) you can smell cigarette smoke on objects or people when you are at home and no one is smoking, and you don't see any smoke? Each item was rated on an 8-point scale ranging from 0 (0 days) to 7 (7 days), with higher scores indicating more frequent exposure to secondhand smoke (i.e., a worse outcome).
Time frame: Right before the intervention and at 8-12th days.
Effectiveness of intervention on tobacco use
Students were asked: 1) Which of the following tobacco products have you ever used? 2) In the past 30 days, which of the following tobacco products have you used?
Time frame: Right before the intervention and at 8-12th days.
Adherence to the 5-day intervention
Students will report their adherence to the 5-day intervention. This information will be extracted directly from online quiz log of the participants via the backend of the system.
Time frame: At 8-12th days
Satisfaction of students and parents towards intervention
These will be assessed using a qualitative interview for a subset of the participants and their family (10 students and parents)
Time frame: From 2-8 weeks after the completion of the post-questionnaire
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