Perceptions of and responses of young adults who use e-cigarettes to flavour bans in China: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: China has banned all flavoured e-cigarettes to reduce e-cigarette use among young people, but little is known about the views and reactions of people who use e-cigarettes. This study explored the perceptions of, and responses by, young adults who use e-cigarettes to the flavour ban. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 Chinese young adults aged 18-25 years who had used e-cigarettes daily in the past 3 months. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data. FINDINGS: Four themes were identified from the data: (1) understanding of the public health benefits, (2) resistance to and misperceptions of the flavour ban, (3) circumvention of the flavour ban and (4) acceptance of the flavour ban. Some participants expressed support for the ban due to perceived public health benefits, while others who resisted the ban emphasised their right to choose preferred flavours and questioned the rationale behind the policy. Participants responded to the flavour ban by utilising a variety of adaptive strategies, including purchasing flavoured e-cigarettes through illegal channels or exploring alternative ways to obtain flavours. Those who complied with the ban responded with different strategies, including switching back to combustible cigarettes, using tobacco-flavoured e-cigarettes, or quitting vaping. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the need for comprehensive regulatory measures, including stringent enforcement measures, transparent health communication and vigilant monitoring of e-cigarette manufacturers' tactics, to reduce e-cigarette use among young adults.

Association between tobacco industry denormalisation beliefs and support for tobacco endgame policies: a population-based study in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations between tobacco industry denormalisation (TID) beliefs and support for tobacco endgame policies. METHODS: A total of 2810 randomly selected adult respondents of population-based tobacco policy-related surveys (2018-2019) were included. TID beliefs (agree vs disagree/unsure) were measured by seven items: tobacco manufacturers ignore health, induce addiction, hide harm, spread false information, lure smoking, interfere with tobacco control policies and should be responsible for health problems. Score of each item was summed up and dichotomised (median=5, >5 strong beliefs; ≤5 weak beliefs). Support for tobacco endgame policies on total bans of tobacco sales (yes/no) and use (yes/no) was reported. Associations between TID beliefs and tobacco endgame policies support across various smoking status were analysed, adjusting for sociodemographics. RESULTS: Fewer smokers (23.3%) had strong beliefs of TID than ex-smokers (48.4%) and never smokers (48.5%) (p<0.001). Support for total bans on tobacco sales (74.6%) and use (76.9%) was lower in smokers (33.3% and 35.3%) than ex-smokers (74.3% and 77.9%) and never smokers (76.0% and 78.3%) (all p values<0.001). An increase in the number of TID beliefs supported was positively associated with support for a total ban on sales (adjusted risk ratio 1.06, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.08, p<0.001) and use (1.06, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.07, p<0.001). The corresponding associations were stronger in smokers than non-smokers (sales: 1.87 vs 1.25, p value for interaction=0.03; use: 1.78 vs 1.21, p value for interaction=0.03). CONCLUSION: Stronger TID belief was associated with greater support for total bans on tobacco sales and use. TID intervention may increase support for tobacco endgame, especially in current smokers.

Effect of Adding Personalized Instant Messaging Apps to a Brief Smoking Cessation Model in Community Smokers in Hong Kong: Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: While text messaging has proven effective for smoking cessation (SC), engagement in the intervention remains suboptimal. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate whether using more interactive and adaptive instant messaging (IM) apps on smartphones, which enable personalization and chatting with SC advisors, can enhance SC outcomes beyond the provision of brief SC advice and active referral (AR) to SC services. METHODS: From December 2018 to November 2019, we proactively recruited 700 adult Chinese daily cigarette users in Hong Kong. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio. At baseline, all participants received face-to-face brief advice on SC. Additionally, they were introduced to local SC services and assisted in selecting one. The intervention group received an additional 26 personalized regular messages and access to interactive chatting through IM apps for 3 months. The regular messages aimed to enhance self-efficacy, social support, and behavioral capacity for quitting, as well as to clarify outcome expectations related to cessation. We developed 3 sets of messages tailored to the planned quit date (within 30 days, 60 days, and undecided). Participants in the intervention group could initiate chatting with SC advisors on IM themselves or through prompts from regular messages or proactive inquiries from SC advisors. The control group received 26 SMS text messages focusing on general health. The primary outcomes were smoking abstinence validated by carbon monoxide levels of <4 parts per million at 6 and 12 months after the start of the intervention. RESULTS: Of the participants, 505/700 (72.1%) were male, and 450/648 (69.4%) were aged 40 or above. Planning to quit within 30 days was reported by 500/648 (77.2%) participants, with fewer intervention group members (124/332, 37.3%) reporting previous quit attempts compared with the control group (152/335, 45.4%; P=.04). At the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (with retention rates of 456/700, 65.1%, and 446/700, 63.7%, respectively), validated abstinence rates were comparable between the intervention (14/350, 4.0%, and 19/350, 5.4%) and control (11/350, 3.1% and 21/350, 6.0%) groups. Compared with the control group, the intervention group reported greater utilization of SC services at 12 months (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01-1.56). Within the intervention group, engaging in chat sessions with SC advisors predicted better validated abstinence at 6 months (RR 3.29, 95% CI 1.13-9.63) and any use of SC services (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.14-2.43 at 6 months; RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.26-2.23 at 12 months). CONCLUSIONS: An IM-based intervention, providing support and assistance alongside brief SC advice and AR, did not yield further increases in quitting rates but did encourage the utilization of SC services. Future research could explore whether enhanced SC service utilization leads to improved long-term SC outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03800719; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03800719.

Cigarettes, heated tobacco products and dual use: exhaled carbon monoxide, saliva cotinine and total tobacco consumed by Hong Kong tobacco users.

BACKGROUND: Independent studies on exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and saliva cotinine levels in regular heated tobacco product (HTP) users, and how they compare with conventional cigarette (CC) smokers, are lacking. METHODS: A total of 3294 current users of CCs, HTPs or electronic cigarettes (ECs) from a household survey and a smoking hotspot survey were classified into seven groups: exclusive users of CCs, HTPs, ECs; dual users of CCs and HTPs, CCs and ECs, HTPs and ECs; and triple users. We measured exhaled CO level using the piCo Smokerlyzer (n=780) and saliva cotinine using NicAlert cotinine test strips (n=620). Among the seven groups, the differences in (1) CO and cotinine levels were examined using Kruskal-Wallis test, and (2) the average daily tobacco consumption in the past 30 days was examined using multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Both exclusive and dual users of CCs had a higher CO level than exclusive HTP or EC users (p<0.05). Exhaled CO levels were similar between HTP and EC users, as were saliva cotinine levels among the seven groups. Compared with exclusive CC users, those who also used HTPs or ECs smoked fewer CCs (CCs+HTPs: adjusted coefficient -2.79, 95% CI -3.90 to -1.69; CCs+ECs: -1.34, 95% CI -2.34 to -0.34), but consumed more tobacco sticks equivalent in total (2.79 (95% CI 1.61 to 3.96); 1.95 (95% CI 0.79 to 3.12)). CONCLUSIONS: HTP or EC use showed lower exhaled CO but similar saliva cotinine levels compared with CC use. Dual users of CCs and HTPs/ECs smoked fewer CCs than exclusive CC users, but consumed more tobacco in total.

Perception of heated tobacco products and support for regulations: a cross-sectional study in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Hong Kong has proposed banning the sale of heated tobacco products (HTPs). Perceptions of reduced harms and effectiveness for quitting combustible cigarettes (CCs) of HTPs due to their promotions may erode public support for regulations. We assessed the associations between perceptions of HTPs and support for regulations in Hong Kong. METHODS: In two population-based landline surveys conducted in 2018-2019, 1985 respondents (51.4% male; 22.7% aged 60+ years) reported perceived relative harm of HTPs to CCs and effectiveness for quitting CCs, and support for five HTP regulations (ban on promotion and advertisements, use in smoke-free areas, sales to minors, registration before sale, sale licence) and a total ban on sale. Current and former smokers were oversampled due to low prevalence. Descriptive statistics were weighted to the general population. Associations were analysed, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status and ever HTP use. RESULTS: 27.4% (N=515) of respondents perceived HTPs as less harmful, and 18.8% (N=1299) perceived them as effective for quitting CCs. Support was generally high (at least one regulation, 99.1%, N=1959; all five regulations, 66.8%, N=1114; total ban, 63.5%, N=946). Perceptions of reduced harm were associated with lower support for all five regulations (adjusted risk ratio 0.85, 0.75 to 0.96) and a total ban on sale (0.58, 0.51 to 0.66). Results were similar for perceptions of effectiveness for quitting. CONCLUSIONS: Lower support for HTP regulations and a total ban on sale were associated with perceptions of reduced harm and effectiveness for quitting CCs of HTPs in Hong Kong.

Exposure to health misinformation about COVID-19 and increased tobacco and alcohol use: a population-based survey in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: Health information about COVID-19 has been circulating in social networking sites, including unproven claims that smoking and alcohol drinking could protect against COVID-19. We examined if exposure to such claims was associated with changes in tobacco and alcohol consumption. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, landline and mobile phone survey of 1501 randomly sampled adults aged 18 years or older (47.5% male) in Hong Kong in April 2020. Respondents reported if they had ever seen claims that 'smoking/alcohol drinking can protect against COVID-19' from popular social networking platforms. Current tobacco and alcohol users reported if they had increased or reduced their consumption since the outbreak. Prevalence data were weighted by sex, age and education of the general adult population. RESULTS: 19.0% (95% CI 16.8% to 21.4%) of all respondents reported having seen claims that 'smoking/alcohol drinking can protect against COVID-19' from social networking sites. Multinomial logistic regression showed that exposure to the claims was significantly associated with increased tobacco use (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.08 to 5.20) in current tobacco users (N=280) and increased alcohol use (OR 4.16, 95% CI 2.00 to 8.67) in current drinkers (N=722), adjusting for sex, age, education level, alcohol/tobacco use status, home isolation, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and survey method. CONCLUSION: Our results first showed that exposure to health misinformation that smoking/alcohol drinking can protect against COVID-19 was associated with self-reported increases in tobacco and alcohol consumption in Chinese during the pandemic.

Association of heated tobacco product use with smoking cessation in Chinese cigarette smokers in Hong Kong: a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are increasingly popular worldwide, but whether they aid or undermine cigarette abstinence remains uncertain. We examined the predictors of HTP initiation and the prospective association of HTP use with cigarette abstinence in community-based smokers in Hong Kong. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of brief advice and referral for smoking cessation. The interventions were not related to HTP use. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: 1213 carbon monoxide-verified daily cigarette smokers with intentions to quit or reduce smoking proactively recruited from community sites throughout Hong Kong MAIN EXPOSURE: Current (past 7 day) use of HTP at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME: Self-reported 7-day point-prevalence cigarette abstinence at 6 months (exclusive use of HTP permitted). RESULTS: At baseline, 201 (16.6%) and 60 (4.9%) were ever and current HTP users, respectively. During the 6-month follow-up period, 110 of 1012 (10.9%) never users at baseline initiated HTPs. Younger age and higher education significantly predicted initiation. After adjusting for sociodemographic, smoking-related and quitting-related factors, current HTP use at baseline was not associated with cigarette abstinence at 6 months (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) 1.08, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.85). The results were similar in persistent users from baseline to 1-month/3-month follow-up (vs non-users; aPR 1.14, 95% CI 0.57 to 2.29). Use of smoking cessation service between baseline and 3-month follow-up significantly predicted cigarette abstinence (aPR 1.70, 95% CI 1.26 to 2.30). CONCLUSION: HTP use was not associated with cigarette abstinence at 6 months in a community-based cohort of smokers with intentions to quit or reduce smoking. Trial registration details ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03565796.

Heated tobacco products use in Chinese adults in Hong Kong: a population-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated heated tobacco products (HTPs) use and associated factors in Chinese adults in Hong Kong where HTPs are not formally marketed yet, and cigarette smoking prevalence was the lowest in the developed world. METHODS: A population-based landline telephone survey in 2017 interviewed 5131 (45.2% male; 26.7% aged ≥60) adults to collect information on awareness, intention to use, ever use of HTPs, cigarette smoking status and sociodemographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics were weighted by the age, sex and smoking status of the Hong Kong adult population. Sociodemographics were mutually adjusted in logistic regression to yield adjusted ORs (AORs) for awareness of HTPs, controlling for smoking status. RESULTS: Overall, 11.3% (95% CI 10.0% to 12.7%) were aware of HTPs and 1.0 % (0.8%-1.2%) had ever used it. Awareness was associated with aged 40-49 years (AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.87) or 30-39 years (2.03, 1.41-2.91) (vs ≥60 years), born in Hong Kong (1.37, 1.11-1.68) and higher monthly household income (p for trend 0.001). Ever HTP users had higher educational attainment and monthly household income, and more were aged 30-39 and economically active (all p<0.003). In never HTP users, intention to use HTPs (7.3%, 4.9%-10.8%) were more prevalent in respondents with similar characteristics (all p<0.008). More current (vs never) smokers were aware of HTPs, intent to use HTPs and had ever used HTPs (all p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher socioeconomic status was associated with HTP use and intention to use. Public health education on HTPs is needed especially for this high-risk group.

A Brief Intervention With Instant Messaging or Regular Text Messaging Support in Reducing Alcohol Use: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Alcohol use is prevalent among university students. Mobile instant messaging apps could enhance the effectiveness of an alcohol brief intervention (ABI), but the evidence is scarce. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an ABI plus 3 months of mobile chat-based instant messaging support for alcohol reduction in university students at risk of alcohol use disorder. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this randomized clinical trial, 772 students at risk of alcohol use disorder (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT] score ≥8) were recruited from 8 universities in Hong Kong between October 15, 2020, and May 12, 2022. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the intervention or control group. Interventions: Both groups received the same ABI at baseline, which consisted of face-to-face or video conferencing with research nurses who delivered personalized feedback based on the participant's AUDIT risk level, along with a 12-page booklet describing the benefits of alcohol reduction and the harmful effects of alcohol on health and social well-being. The intervention group then received 3 months of chat-based instant messaging support on alcohol reduction guided by behavioral change techniques. The control group received 3 months of short message service (SMS) messaging on general health topics. Main Outcomes and Measures: All outcomes were self-reported. The primary outcome was alcohol consumption in grams per week at 6 months of follow-up. By definition, 1 alcohol unit contains 10 g of pure alcohol. Secondary outcomes at the 6-month follow-up included changes in AUDIT score, weekly alcohol consumption, intention to drink in the next 30 days, drinking frequency and any binge or heavy drinking in the past 30 days, and self-efficacy of quitting drinking. The primary analysis followed the intention-to-treat principle, and linear regression (reported as unstandardized coefficient B) and logistic regression (reported as odds ratios) were used to compare the primary and secondary outcomes between the intervention and control groups. Results: The study included 772 students (mean [SD] age, 21.1 [3.5] years; 395 females [51.2%]) who were randomly assigned to either the intervention (n = 386) or control (n = 386) group. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the intervention group had lower alcohol consumption in grams per week (B, -11.42 g [95% CI, -19.22 to -3.62 g]; P = .004), a lower AUDIT score (B, -1.19 [95% CI, -1.63 to -0.34]; P = .003), reduced weekly alcohol unit consumption (B, -1.14 [95% CI, -1.92 to -0.36]; P = .004), and less intention to drink (odds ratio, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.47 to 0.92]; P = .01) at the 6-month follow-up compared with the control group. In analyses adjusted for baseline characteristics, interacting at least once with the research nurse on the instant messaging application resulted in lower estimated alcohol consumption in grams per week (adjusted B, -17.87 g [95% CI, -32.55 to -3.20 g]; P = .01), lower weekly alcohol unit consumption (adjusted B, -1.79 [95% CI, -3.25 to -0.32]; P = .02), and a lower AUDIT score (adjusted B, -0.53 [95% CI, -1.87 to -0.44]; P = .01) at 6 months. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this randomized clinical trial indicate that mobile chat-based instant messaging support for alcohol reduction in addition to an ABI was effective in reducing alcohol consumption in university students in Hong Kong at risk of alcohol use disorder. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04025151.

Perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking was associated with reduced smoking at home but not on the streets amid the pandemic: A population-based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Perceived risk of COVID-19 infection is associated with smoking behaviors, but the change in smoking across different settings are uncertain. We examined the associations of perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking with change in smoking at home and on the streets. METHODS: We analyzed data of 1120 current cigarette smokers aged ≥15 years from a population-based telephone survey in Hong Kong. Perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking, change in smoking, intention to quit, and tobacco dependence were measured. We used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate adjusted risk ratio (ARR) for associations, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, intention to quit, and time to first cigarette after waking. RESULTS: More current smokers reduced smoking on the streets (46.1%; 95% CI: 42.8-50.0) than at home (8.7%; 95% CI: 7.0-10.8). Perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking was associated with smoking reduction at home (ARR=3.29; 95% CI: 1.80-6.00, p<0.001) but not on the streets (ARR=1.13; 95% CI: 0.98-1.30, p=0.09). More smokers with stronger quit intention and lower tobacco dependence reduced smoking at home but not on the streets in those with high perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report showing that more cigarette smokers reduced smoking on the streets than at home, and the perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking was only associated with smoking reduction at home but not on the streets. Improving smokers' awareness of the susceptibility to COVID-19 may be an effective strategy to reduce tobacco consumption and secondhand smoke exposure at home within the context of future respiratory pandemics.

Associations of the perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 with confidence in coping with the pandemic and mental health symptoms: a population-based survey in Hong Kong.

Introduction: Both perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 have been reported, but whether they affect confidence in coping with the pandemic and mental health remains uncertain. Objective: To examine the association of perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 with confidence in coping with the pandemic and mental health symptoms. Methods: A population-based survey was conducted on 7,535 Hong Kong adults from 22 February to 23 March 2021, when the 4th wave of COVID-19 was under control. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, perceived benefits (10 options) and harms (12 options) of COVID-19, confidence in coping with the pandemic (range 0-10), loneliness (range 0-4), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorders-2, range 0-6) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2, range 0-6) was collected. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the combined patterns of perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19. The associations of combined patterns with confidence in coping with COVID-19, loneliness, anxiety, and depression were examined using linear regression (ß coefficient) adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The combined patterns of perceived benefits and harms were classified into benefit (n = 4,338, 59.3%), harm (n = 995, 14.0%), and ambivalent (n = 2,202, 26.7%) groups. Compared with the ambivalent group, the benefit group had a significantly higher level of confidence (adjusted ß 0.46, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.58), and lower levels of loneliness (-0.35, -0.40 to-0.29), anxiety (-0.67, 0.76 to-0.59), and depression (-0.65, -0.73 to-0.57). The harm group had a significantly lower level of confidence (-0.35, -0.53 to-0.16), and higher levels of loneliness (0.38, 0.30 to 0.45), anxiety (0.84, 0.73 to 0.96), and depression (0.95, 0.84 to 1.07). Conclusion: Perceived greater benefit from COVID-19 was associated with better mental health and stronger confidence in coping with the pandemic.

Impact of mandatory masking amid the COVID-19 pandemic on outdoor smoking: an interrupted time-series analysis of a 33-month unobtrusive observational study.

Background: Mask-wearing in outdoor public places in Hong Kong was mandated on 29 July 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the impact of mandatory masking with no exemption for smoking on outdoor smoking. Methods: We conducted 253 unobtrusive observations at 10 outdoor smoking hotspots in 33 months from July 2019 to March 2022 and counted smokers and non-smoking pedestrians in fixed boundaries. We conducted interrupted time-series analyses on the monthly mean volume of smokers (persons per hour) using generalized linear models. The independent variables were as follows: time since the first observation, implementation of the mask regulation, time since the regulation, seasonality, and waves 1-5 outbreaks. We checked the robustness of the association using the daily mean volume of smokers as the dependent variable. Two sensitivity analyses were conducted to include the hotspot location or the number of all pedestrians as an offset. Results: Monthly outdoor smoking decreased immediately after the regulation (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.505, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.374 to 0.680, P < 0.001). Daily smoking analysis and the two sensitivity analyses supported the results. However, monthly outdoor smoking increased by 11% since the regulation (IRR: 1.110, 95% CI: 1.074 to 1.147, P < 0.001). An exception was observed at the most severe wave 5 outbreak when monthly outdoor smoking decreased (IRR: 0.415, 95% CI: 0.327 to 0.525, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Outdoor smoking fell immediately after mandatory masking, rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, and decreased again at the most severe wave 5.

Effect of smoking-related COVID-19 risk messaging on smoking cessation in community smokers: A pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Observational and experimental studies have suggested that messaging on smoking-related COVID-19 risk may promote smoking abstinence, but evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is lacking. METHODS: This was a pragmatic RCT in Hong Kong, China, to compare the effectiveness of communicating smoking-related COVID-19 risk with generic cessation support on abstinence. Both groups received brief cessation advice at baseline. The intervention group received messaging on smoking-related COVID-19 risk and cessation support via instant messaging for three months (16 messages in total), which highlighted the increased risk of severe COVID-19 and deaths, and potentially higher risk of viral exposure (e.g. due to mask removal) for smokers. The control group received generic text messaging support for three months (16 messages). The primary outcomes were biochemically validated 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 3 and 6 months. Intention to treat analyses was used. RESULTS: Between 13 June and 30 October 2020, 1166 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=583) or control (n=583) group. By intention-to-treat, validated 7-day PPA did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups at three months (9.6% and 11.8%, relative risk, RR=0.81; 95% CI: 0.58-1.13, p=0.22) or six months (9.3% and 11.7%, RR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.57-1.11, p=0.18). A higher perceived severity of COVID-19 in smokers at baseline was associated with a greater validated 7-day PPA at six months, and a marginally significant intervention effect on changes in perceived severity from baseline through 6 months was found (p for group × time interaction = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: Communicating smoking-related COVID-19 risk via instant messaging was not more effective in increasing smoking abstinence than generic cessation support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04399967.

Effect of mobile interventions with nicotine replacement therapy sampling on long-term smoking cessation in community smokers: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Mobile interventions enable personalized behavioral support that could improve smoking cessation (SC) in smokers ready to quit. Scalable interventions, including unmotivated smokers, are needed. We evaluated the effect of personalized behavioral support through mobile interventions plus nicotine replacement therapy sampling (NRT-S) on SC in Hong Kong community smokers. METHODS: A total of 664 adult daily cigarette smokers (74.4% male, 51.7% not ready to quit in 30 days) were proactively recruited from smoking hotspots and individually randomized (1:1) to the intervention and control groups (each, n=332). Both groups received brief advice and active referral to SC services. The intervention group received 1-week NRT-S at baseline and 12-week personalized behavioral support through SC advisor-delivered Instant Messaging (IM) and a fully automated chatbot. The control group received regular text messages regarding general health at a similar frequency. Primary outcomes were carbon monoxide-validated smoking abstinence at 6 and 12 months post-treatment initiation. Secondary outcomes included self-reported 7-day point-prevalence and 24-week continuous abstinence, quit attempts, smoking reduction, and SC service use at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: By intention-to-treat, the intervention group did not significantly increase validated abstinence at 6 months (3.9% vs 3.0%, OR=1.31; 95% CI: 0.57-3.04) and 12 months (5.4% vs 4.5%, OR=1.21; 95% CI: 0.60-2.45), as were self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence, smoking reduction, and SC service use at 6 and 12 months. More participants in the intervention than control group made a quit attempt by 6 months (47.0% vs 38.0%, OR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.06-1.97). Intervention engagement rates were low, but engagement in IM alone or combined with chatbot showed higher abstinence at 6 months (adjusted odds ratios, AORs=4.71 and 8.95, both p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Personalized behavioral support through mobile interventions plus NRT-S did not significantly improve abstinence in community smokers compared to text only messaging. The suboptimal intervention engagement needs to be addressed in future studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04001972.

A content analysis of heated tobacco product business in Hong Kong on Facebook.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are increasingly popular in Hong Kong (HK) even though they have not been formally launched and the sale of duty-not-paid tobacco sticks is illegal. We investigated how Facebook was used against regulations to sell HTPs in HK. We screened Facebook pages run by HTP businesses targeting HK users in June 2019 and included pages with over 300 "Likes" for inductive content analysis by coding their "About" descriptions and all posts including comments published since January 2017. HTPs included heating devices, accessories, and tobacco sticks. Various attributes were recorded including methods of customer inquiries (telephone, Instant Messaging [IM], address), business responses (comments or private messages, PM), and services provided (warranty/repair). Among 30 pages (50.9% of all 59 eligible pages with related information on HTPs), two-thirds provided phone numbers (66.7%), IM accounts (65.5%), and addresses (66.7%). Most pages sold heating devices (26, 86.7%) and accessories (22, 73.3%) with over 72% providing phone numbers, IM accounts, or addresses. Only 8 pages (26.7%) sold tobacco sticks with 75.0% providing telephone numbers but fewer provided IM accounts (62.5%) and addresses (50.0%). All pages responded using PMs and only 12.5% also used comments. Warranty/repair services were provided by 43.3% of the pages. We found Facebook pages were used as dedicated stores to promote and sell HTPs including heating devices, accessories, and even illicit tobacco sticks in HK, a non-official market.

Workplace cessation support is associated with more abstinence in a workplace program in Hong Kong: A mixed-methods study.

INTRODUCTION: We examined the association of workplace smoking cessation (SC) support from employers, in addition to SC interventions, and smoking abstinence. METHODS: Smoking employees (≥1 cigarette daily, aged ≥18 years) from companies of various industries joined a workplace SC program in Hong Kong. Self-reported past 7-day point prevalence abstinence was measured at follow-up at 6 months. We assessed 14 types of workplace SC support with higher scores (range: 0-14) indicating greater support. Multivariable logistic regression examined the prospective association between workplace SC support and smoking abstinence, adjusting for intention to quit, nicotine dependence, self-efficacy of quitting, and sociodemographic characteristics. Average marginal effects were calculated to test if the association between overall workplace SC support and self-reported past 7-day PPA at follow-up at 6 months was modified by subgroups. We also interviewed employers from different companies to explore their perspectives of providing workplace SC support, and the data were analyzed by thematic analysis. RESULTS: In 383 participants who received a heath talk, a self-help SC booklet, and 15 text messages, greater workplace SC support was associated with smoking abstinence (AOR=1.32; 95% CI: 1.08-1.61), including support for smoke-free environment (AOR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.08-2.11) and for SC attempts/actions (AOR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.21-3.07). The association did not differ by sex, age, intention to quit, nicotine dependence, company size or company type. Qualitative interviews found that employers provided workplace SC support to establish a good company image, cost-benefit considerations were important to the types of workplace SC support provided, and lack of SC knowledge was a barrier to providing workplace SC support. CONCLUSIONS: Greater workplace SC support was associated with more abstinence in a workplace SC program.

Associations of changes in smoking-related practices with quit attempt and smoking consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study.

INTRODUCTION: How changes in smoking routine due to COVID-19 restrictions (e.g. refraining from smoking outdoors and stockpiling tobacco products) influence smoking behaviors remains understudied. We examined the associations of changes in smoking-related practices with quit attempts and smoking consumption in current smokers using a mixed-methods design. METHODS: In a community-based telephone survey conducted between the second and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, 659 smokers (87.1% male; 45.2% aged 40-59 years) were asked about quit attempts and changes in cigarette consumption and five smoking-related practices since the COVID-19 outbreak. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR), adjusting for sex, age, education level, chronic disease status, heaviness of smoking (HSI), psychological distress (PHQ-4) and perceived danger of COVID-19. A subsample of 34 smokers provided qualitative data through semi-structured interviews for thematic analyses. RESULTS: Favorable changes in smoking-related practices, including having avoided smoking on the street (prevalence: 58.9%) and reduced going out to buy cigarettes (33.5%), were associated with a quit attempt (AOR: 2.09 to 2.26; p<0.01) and smoking reduction (AOR: 1.76 to 4.97; p<0.05). Avoiding smoking with other smokers (50.5%) was associated with smoking reduction (AOR=1.76; p<0.05) but not quit attempt (AOR=1.26; p>0.05). Unfavorable changes, including having increased smoking at home (25.0%) and stockpiled tobacco products (19.6%), were associated with increased smoking (AOR: 2.84 to 6.20; p<0.05). Low HSI (0-2) was associated with favorable changes (p<0.01), while high HSI score (3-6) was associated with unfavorable changes (p<0.01). Qualitative interviews revealed a double-edged effect of staying at home on smoking consumption and that pandemic precautionary measures (e.g. mask-wearing) reduced outdoor smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Amid the pandemic, favorable changes in smoking-related practices in smokers were mostly associated with quit attempts and smoking reduction, while unfavorable changes were associated with increased smoking. Smokers with higher nicotine dependence were more negatively impacted.

Changes in tobacco use at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of four cross-sectional surveys in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in tobacco use since the COVID-19 outbreak differed by countries and little is known about changes in the use of specific tobacco products. METHODS: We analyzed data from four cross-sectional telephone/online surveys from April to June 2020 to investigate such changes since the 1st and 2nd wave outbreaks (February to April 2020) in Hong Kong. The respondents were 1595 adults (83.2% male) who used tobacco before the COVID-19 outbreak from our previous intervention study and surveys. We investigated the changes in tobacco use, intention to quit and quit attempts during the outbreak. RESULTS: About two-thirds (65.3%) of respondents reported no change in overall tobacco use, while 23.1% used less (including cessation) and 11.6% used more, resulting in a net decrease of 11.5 percentage points. A greater net decrease was observed for cigarettes (14.3% points) than heated tobacco products (HTPs, 3.3% points) and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, 2.5% points). Decreased use was mainly due to the more extended stay at home (63.2%), health considerations (52.6%) and mask-wearing (47.4%), while increased use was for passing time (75.0%) and releasing stress (46.4%). Eight percent of cigarette, HTP and e-cigarette users reported a higher intention to quit since the pandemic outbreak. Nineteen percent of tobacco users (176/948) attempted to quit during the pandemic. Only 2.9% (46/1569) were abstinent at the time of the survey. CONCLUSIONS: Overall tobacco use decreased after the first two waves of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong. A greater proportion of cigarette users decreased use than HTP and e-cigarette users. Given the different methods used in the four surveys, future studies should aim for a large and representative sample.

Mobile chat-based support plus nicotine replacement therapy sampling to promote smoking cessation for community smokers: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Mobile instant messaging could deliver real-time, personalized, interactive smoking cessation support. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is effective in increasing quit attempts and abstinence but is underused. We assessed the feasibility of mobile chat-based intervention combined NRT sampling (NRT-S) on abstinence. METHODS: In this two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial, adult (≥18 years) daily cigarette smokers were proactively recruited from Hong Kong community settings using 'foot-in-the-door' approach during December 2017 to March 2018. All participants received brief advice on quitting, 1-week of NRT-S, active referral to smoking cessation services, and were individually randomized (1:1) at baseline. The intervention group received two months of chat-based support via instant messaging. The control group received general smoking cessation text messages. The primary outcome was smoking abstinence validated by exhaled carbon monoxide (<4 ppm) and salivary cotinine (<10 ng/mL) at 3 and 6 months using intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: A total of 119 participants (80.7% male, 60.5% aged 30-40 years) were randomized and analyzed. Among the 14 and 13 self-reported quitters at 3 and 6 months respectively, only 3 and 1 had biochemical validation. The 3 months validated abstinence rate was 2/62 (intervention) vs 1/57 (control) (AOR=1.07; 95% CI: 0.08-13.65). At 6 months follow-up (68.9% of participants retained), more participants in the intervention group reported quitting (10/62 vs 3/57; AOR=2.83; 95% CI: 0.70-11.30), smoking reduction (20/62 vs 11/57; AOR=1.74; 95% CI: 0.71-4.26), and quit attempts (56/62 vs 44/57; AOR=2.61; 95% CI: 0.88-7.82). Significantly more NRT-S use (39/62 vs 22/57; AOR=2.27; 95% CI: 1.04-4.96) was observed in the intervention group. Participants engaged in mobile chat support (21/62) reported more NRT-S use (76.2% vs 56.1%), although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile chat-based support plus NRT-S was feasible and showed preliminary evidence of increased quitting, smoking reduction, quit attempts, and NRT-S use in proactively recruited community smokers. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03574077.

Brief Advice, Nicotine Replacement Therapy Sampling, and Active Referral for Expectant Fathers Who Smoke Cigarettes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Pregnancy presents an opportunity to engage expectant fathers in smoking cessation, but evidence from randomized clinical trials is scarce. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a proactive, combined intervention for smoking cessation in expectant fathers. Design, Setting, and Participants: This pragmatic randomized clinical trial in prenatal clinics in 7 public hospitals in Hong Kong proactively recruited and enrolled 1053 participants from October 10, 2018, to February 8, 2020. Included male adults were 18 years or older, smoked cigarettes daily in the past 3 months, had partners who were pregnant and nonsmoking in the past 30 days, and had a landline or mobile telephone number for follow-up. These participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The primary analyses used an intention-to-treat approach. Interventions: The intervention group received brief cessation advice, a 1-week free sample of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and active referral to a community-based smoking cessation service. The control group received only brief cessation advice with a leaflet on the hazards of perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke and the toll-free quitline telephone number. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was biochemically validated tobacco abstinence at 6 months after intervention initiation defined by an exhaled carbon monoxide level of 3 parts per million or lower. The secondary outcomes included self-reported 24-week continuous abstinence at 6 months after intervention initiation as well as 7-day point prevalence abstinence, use of any NRT, and use of a smoking cessation service at 3 and 6 months after intervention initiation. Results: All 1053 randomized participants were male adults with a mean (SD) age of 33.8 (6.9) years. The retention rate at 6-month follow-up was 80.7%. The primary outcome of biochemically validated tobacco abstinence at 6 months after intervention initiation was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (6.8% [36 of 527 participants] vs 3.6% [19 of 526]; odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% CI, 1.11-3.46; P = .02). The main secondary outcomes of self-reported 24-week continuous abstinence at 6 months (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.08-3.23; P = .03) and 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 3 months (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.05-2.09; P = .03) and 6 months (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.29-2.34; P < .001) were also significantly higher in the intervention group. The intervention group had a significantly higher increase in perceived family harmony (score range, 0-10, with a higher score indicating a higher level of harmony) from baseline to 6 months (B = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.063-0.50; P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance: This trial found that combining brief advice with a 1-week sample of NRT and referral to smoking cessation programs nearly doubled the odds that expectant fathers who smoked would achieve validated abstinence compared with providing brief advice alone. The intervention was also effective in promoting family harmony. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03671707.