A brief alcohol intervention during smoking cessation treatment in daily cigarette smokers: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Alcohol use attenuates successful smoking cessation. We examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a brief alcohol intervention in smokers. In this two-arm, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial, we randomized 100 daily smokers (82.

Increasing trends of household secondhand smoke exposure and widening socioeconomic disparities in Hong Kong adolescents, 2010-2020.

Introduction: To assess 10-year trends (2010-2020) in household secondhand smoke exposure (SHSe) from inside their own homes and from their neighbours in Hong Kong adolescents and analyse changes by socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods: Data from the 2010 to 2020 School-based Smoking Survey among Students (total responses were 228,623) were analysed in 2023. Weighted prevalence and temporal trends of SHSe were calculated across years.

Economic costs of tobacco-related diseases in Hong Kong in 2021.

Background: Hong Kong has one of the lowest smoking prevalence both within China and among high-income economies. As tobacco use consistently declined over the past decades, we examine whether there are corresponding cost reductions.

Methods: Data were sourced from diverse population-wide datasets including government reports and public hospital records.

Mobile chat messaging for preventing relapse among people who recently quit smoking: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Most smokers who achieve short-term abstinence relapse even when aided by evidence-based cessation treatment. Mobile health presents a promising but largely untested avenue for providing adjunct behavioral support for relapse prevention. This paper presents the rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of personalized mobile chat messaging support for relapse prevention among people who recently quit smoking.

Reaching Youth Smokers Through a Multipronged Approach: Comparison of Three Recruitment Methods of a Youth Quitline in Hong Kong.

Purpose: Using multipronged recruitment strategies is crucial for reaching diverse smokers, yet research specifically focusing on youths is lacking. This prospective study compared the characteristics and abstinence outcomes of youth smokers enrolled in a youth-centered cessation service by three different methods.

Methods: From December 2016 to February 2022, the Youth Quitline enrolled 1,197 smokers aged 10-25 (mean = 19.

Mobile phone-based smoking-cessation intervention in patients with chronic diseases in China: a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART).

Introduction: Mobile phone-based interventions show promise for smoking cessation but often face low engagement. This study assessed the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a 2-phase, multi-component mobile phone-based smoking cessation intervention for patients with chronic diseases.

Methods: This Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) recruited smokers with chronic diseases from hospitals in Zhuhai, China.

Chatbot-Led Support Combined With Counselor-Led Support on Smoking Cessation in China: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: China has a large population of smokers, with half of them dependent on tobacco and in need of cessation assistance, indicating the need for mobile health (mHealth) to provide cessation support.

Objective: The study aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of combining chatbot-led support with counselor-led support for smoking cessation among community smokers in China.

Methods: This is a 2-arm, parallel, assessor-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial nested in a smoke-free campus campaign in Zhuhai, China.

Brief Intervention to Promote Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being in Community Adults: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief community-based intervention to promote physical activity (PA) and the mental well-being of adults in Hong Kong.

Methods: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 15 family service centers. The intervention group (N = 162, 8 centers) received two 2-h interventions uniquely combining "Sharing, Mind and Enjoyment (SME)," Zero-time Exercises (ZTEx), positive psychology, and simple family games.

Effectiveness of mobile smoking cessation treatment with 1-week nicotine replacement therapy sampling at outdoor smoking hotspots: A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of mobile smoking cessation (SC) treatment with 1-week nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sampling on recruitment and quitting outcomes.

Design: Two-arm cluster RCT (1:1 ratio), single-blinded, at 244 recruitment sessions in Hong Kong outdoor smoking hotspots from October 2018-December 2019.

Setting: Participant were recruited by ambassadors and treated at the mobile SC truck.

Ecological Momentary Assessment of Alcohol Marketing Exposure, Alcohol Use, and Purchases Among University Students: Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: The relationships between alcohol marketing exposure, alcohol use, and purchase have been widely studied. However, prospective studies examining the causal relationships in real-world settings using mobile health tools are limited.

Objective: We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine both the within-person- and between-person-level effects of alcohol marketing exposure on any alcohol use, amount of alcohol use, any alcohol purchase, and frequency of alcohol purchase among university students.

Engagement With a Mobile Chat-Based Intervention for Smoking Cessation: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Determining how individuals engage with digital health interventions over time is crucial to understand and optimize intervention outcomes.

Objective: To identify the engagement trajectories with a mobile chat-based smoking cessation intervention and examine its association with biochemically validated abstinence.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A secondary analysis of a pragmatic, cluster randomized clinical trial conducted in Hong Kong with 6-month follow-up.

Effect of narrative videos and mini-VR games in nursing smoking cessation training on empathy and self-efficacy of smoking cessation counseling: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Empathy and self-efficacy for smoking cessation counseling can be enhanced through smoking cessation training. Narrative videos and virtual reality (VR) games have been applied in medical education, but their application in smoking cessation training is limited and understudied.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of smokers' narrative videos and mini-VR games on nursing students' empathy towards smokers (State Empathy Scale), confidence in practicing empathy, self-efficacy in smoking cessation counseling, and learning satisfaction.

Efficacy of simple and very brief handgrip and isometric exercises for reducing withdrawal symptoms in cigarette smokers: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Withdrawal symptoms lead to smoking relapse and reduce the intention to quit. The present pilot RCT examined the effect of simple and very brief handgrip and isometric exercises on reducing withdrawal symptoms, measured by the strength of tobacco craving, Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief (QSU-B), Mood and Physical Symptoms Scale (MPSS), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).

Methods: In this 2-arm, open-labeled pilot RCT, 30 current smokers who had abstained from tobacco for at least 9 hours were randomly assigned (allocation ratio 1:1) to either the intervention group that watched a 5-minute video and did 5-minute handgrip and isometric exercises (pulling and pushing) or control group that watched 10-minute healthy-diet videos.

Patterns and socioeconomic differences in secondhand exposure to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products at home in Hong Kong adolescents.

Introduction: Smoke or aerosols from cigarettes, e-cigarettes (ECs), or heated tobacco products (HTPs) are harmful. Yet, there is little knowledge about the specific patterns of secondhand tobacco exposure by source within household settings and the socioeconomic status (SES) differences in adolescents.

Methods: We used territory-representative student data from a cross-sectional school-based survey in 2020-2021 to calculate the weighted prevalence of secondhand exposure to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and HTPs in the past seven days.

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.

Examining health apps and wearable use in improving physical and mental well-being across U.S., China, and Singapore.

Health apps and wearables are touted to improve physical health and mental well-being. However, it is unclear from existing research the extent to which these health technologies are efficacious in improving physical and mental well-being at a population level, particularly for the underserved groups from the perspective of health equity and social determinants. Also, it is unclear if the relationship between health apps and wearables use and physical and mental well-being differs across individualistic, collectivistic, and a mix of individual-collectivistic cultures.

Effectiveness of Very Brief Advice on Tobacco Cessation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Very brief advice (VBA; ≤ 3 min) on quitting is practical and scalable during brief medical interactions with patients who smoke. This study aims to synthesize the effectiveness of VBA for smoking cessation and summarize the implementation strategies.

Methods: We searched randomized controlled trials aiming at tobacco abstinence and comparing VBA versus no smoking advice or no contact from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo databases, six Chinese databases, two trial registries ClinicalTrials.

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.

Nurse-Led Brief Intervention for Enhancing Safe Sex Practice Among Emerging Adults in Hong Kong Using Instant Messaging: Feasibility Study.

Background: The incidence of sexually transmitted infections has been increasing throughout the world. Additionally, substantial changes in emerging adults' attitudes toward sex and the popularization of premarital sex could further affect the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. With the high acceptability and effectiveness of instant messaging (IM) interventions for health promotion, there is potential for such interventions to improve condom use knowledge and promote safer sex practice.

Technology-supported behavior change interventions for reducing sodium intake in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effects of technology-supported behavior change interventions for reducing sodium intake on health outcomes in adults are inconclusive. Effective intervention characteristics associated with sodium reduction have yet to be identified. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, searching randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2000 and April 2023 across 5 databases (PROSPERO: CRD42022357905).

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.

Experiences of quitting smoking in prisons: A qualitative study of people in custody.

Introduction: Smoking prevalence among people in custody (PIC) is extremely high, and prison-based smoking cessation interventions are needed. The study explored the quitting experiences of PIC who participated in the 'Quit to Win' contest (QTW).

Methods: This qualitative study, conducted from 2019 to 2021 in two Hong Kong prisons, included semi-structured individual interviews with 26 PIC (13 men and 13 women) who were participants in QTW and two correctional staff who coordinated QTW.

Effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of delivery by different healthcare professionals.

This study addresses the gap in understanding the varied effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral therapy (gCBT) delivered by different professionals. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluate gCBT and compare it to inactive controls in adults with a clinical diagnosis of depression. A total of 33 RCTs were included for analysis.

Corrigendum: Risk perceptions and changes in tobacco use in relation to Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: A qualitative study on adolescent tobacco users in Hong Kong.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18332/tid/167479.].