Abstract

Four Weeks Intervention of Mobile Phone Text Messaging (Let�¢����s Quit!) on Smoking Cessation among University Students: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Author(s):Azmawati Mohammed Nawi, Nurashidah Musa, Chen Ming Jia, Alvin AL Sukalenggam, Rastora and Noor Faraheen Mohd Salleh

Background: Mobile phone text messaging intervention is one of the newest methods to help people to stop smoking. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness between mobile phone text messaging intervention and motivational intervention in increasing quit rate which was biochemically verified at 4 weeks. Methods: A nonrandomized control trial (n=60) was conducted among smokers aged between 18-24 years old from 1 April until 12 May 2014. The intervention group received a mobile phone text message comprising motivational message and tips to quit smoking, whereas the control group received informational pamphlet. An evaluation was done by using an assisted administered questionnaire to measure the pre- and post-outcome of quit rate, timeline follow-back (TLFB) method, Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND), and carbon monoxide (CO) level. The baseline differences between the groups were controlled using ANCOVA and Logistic Regression to test the effectiveness of the intervention. Results: There were significant decrease in the mean of average cigarette smoked for the past one week (TLFB) in the intervention group compared to the control group (p=0.027) from pre- to post intervention assessment. However, there were no significant differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of quit rate (p=0.204), FTND (p=0.880) and CO level (p=0.981) outcomes. Conclusion: For short term mobile phone text messaging smoking cessation intervention, only reduced TLFB result was significant. Even though this study does not achieve its aim in helping smokers to quit, this intervention still gives a positive outcome.

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