Text message-based cessation intervention for people who smoked or used smokeless tobacco in India: A feasibility randomised controlled trial

Nadkarni, Abhijit, Gaikwad, Leena, Sequeira, Miriam, D'Souza, Joseline, Lopes, Megan, Haldankar, Rajanish, Murthy, Pratima, Velleman, Richard, Bhatia, Urvita and Naughton, Felix (2024) Text message-based cessation intervention for people who smoked or used smokeless tobacco in India: A feasibility randomised controlled trial. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. ISSN 1462-2203

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Abstract

Introduction: Despite the high burden of tobacco use in India, users do not have access to adequate help. This pilot trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a text messaging intervention for tobacco cessation, generate preliminary estimates of its impact, and fine-tune procedures for a definitive trial. Methods: Parallel two-arm single blind individually randomised controlled pilot trial with nested qualitative study. Participants included adult current tobacco users (smoked and smokeless). Eligible and consenting participants were randomised to receive either (a) text messaging intervention (ToQuit) which covered specific content areas such as psychoeducation about consequences of tobacco use and benefits of quitting and tobacco avoidance strategies or (b) information about tobacco cessation helplines such as the helpline number and the languages in which tobacco cessation support was available (control). Feasibility data included screening and consent rates, treatment dropouts and outcome ascertainment. The primary abstinence outcome was self-reported abstinence from tobacco in the past seven days at three months post-randomisation. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of participants primarily to collect acceptability data. The primary abstinence analysis used a chi-squared test and logistic regression (complete-case), and qualitative data analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Ninety eight participants were randomised into the two trial arms; 77 (79%) completed outcome evaluation. No between-arm differences in abstinence were found though findings favoured the intervention (7-day abstinence: ToQuit 23%, control 19%; adjusted odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.38, 3.97). Participants appreciated the language, comprehensibility, and relevance of the messages; and reported overall satisfaction with and positive impact from the intervention on their lives. Conclusion: The findings indicate the acceptability and feasibility of ToQuit and if found effective, it could be a potentially scalable first-line response to tobacco use in low resource settings.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data Availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, AN, upon reasonable request. Funding information: This work was supported by Department of Health and Social Care, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Medical Research Council, and Wellcome, UK (Grant number MR/R018456/1).
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Behavioural and Implementation Science
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
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Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 03 Apr 2024 12:31
Last Modified: 03 Apr 2024 12:31
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/94798
DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntae056

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