protocolSection identificationModule nctId: NCT06374082, orgStudyIdInfo id: HKWC-2024-179, briefTitle: Instant Messaging Reinforcement for Smoking Cessation Counseling Training, statusModule overallStatus: NOT_YET_RECRUITING, startDateStruct date: 2024-04, primaryCompletionDateStruct date: 2024-08, completionDateStruct date: 2024-10, studyFirstPostDateStruct date: 2024-04-18, lastUpdatePostDateStruct date: 2024-04-18, sponsorCollaboratorsModule leadSponsor name: The University of Hong Kong, class: OTHER, descriptionModule briefSummary: This research aims to assess the impact of instant messaging reinforcement on the learning outcomes of smoking cessation counseling (SCC) training among master of nursing (MN) students at the University of Hong Kong. The hypotheses suggest that this reinforcement can enhance students' SCC knowledge and techniques, improve their perception of SCC, and increase their application of SCC in clinical work.The study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a 1:1 allocation ratio, using WhatsApp Messenger (WhatsApp) messages for intervention and control groups. The intervention group receives messages related to SCC, while the control group receives generic mental health information. The subjects are MN students enrolled in the "Tobacco Dependency Nursing Intervention and Management" course.The study uses various tools for measurement, including Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and Providers Smoking Cessation Training Evaluation (ProSCiTE). The main outcome measures include SCC practice frequency, SCC knowledge score, SCC attitude score, and SCC practice score.Data analysis will be performed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), using descriptive statistics, intention-to-treat analysis, Chi-square and t-tests, Cohen's d for effect size, and linear mixed models. The expected results suggest that instant messaging reinforcement will enhance SCC knowledge, attitude, and practice among MN students., conditionsModule conditions: Smoking Cessation Counseling Ability, conditions: Smoking Cessation Counseling Practice, designModule studyType: INTERVENTIONAL, phases: NA, designInfo allocation: RANDOMIZED, interventionModel: PARALLEL, primaryPurpose: OTHER, maskingInfo masking: DOUBLE, maskingDescription: Double-blinding technique will be used to conceal the allocation. Participants will not know which group they are in as placebo messages will be introduced. Using a central allocation web-based-controlled randomization, outcome assessors and data analysts will be blind to group allocation, only the principal investigator will be aware of who belongs to the control and intervention groups., whoMasked: PARTICIPANT, whoMasked: OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR, enrollmentInfo count: 60, type: ESTIMATED, armsInterventionsModule interventions name: WhatsApp message, outcomesModule primaryOutcomes measure: SCC practice measurement, secondaryOutcomes measure: SCC knowledge score, secondaryOutcomes measure: SCC attitude score, secondaryOutcomes measure: SCC practice score, eligibilityModule sex: ALL, stdAges: CHILD, stdAges: ADULT, stdAges: OLDER_ADULT, contactsLocationsModule locations facility: Hong KongLKS Faculty of Medicine, city: Hong Kong, zip: 00, country: Hong Kong, contacts name: Derek Yee Tak Cheung, PhD, role: CONTACT, phone: +852 3917 6652, email: derekcheung@hku.hk, contacts name: Derek Yee Tak Cheung, PhD, role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, contacts name: Xiaoyun Xie, PhDcandidate, role: SUB_INVESTIGATOR, contacts name: Guowen Zhang, DN student, role: SUB_INVESTIGATOR, contacts name: Tzu Tsun Luk, PhD, role: SUB_INVESTIGATOR, contacts name: Man Ping Wang, PhD, role: SUB_INVESTIGATOR, contacts name: Siu Chee Chan, PhD, role: SUB_INVESTIGATOR, geoPoint lat: 22.27832, lon: 114.17469, hasResults: False