Clinical trial NCT00912795: SMS Turkey: Harnessing the Power of Text Messaging to Promote Smoking Cessation
Official title: SMS Turkey: Harnessing the Power of TXT Messaging to Promote Smoking Cessation
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Smoking
Keywords: Smoking Cessation
technology
developing countries
Lead sponsor: Center for Innovative Public Health Research
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Hacettepe University
name: Fogarty International Center of the National Institute of Health
First posted: 2009-06-03
Enrollment: 151
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to develop and test a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for adults who are currently smoking and want to quit, living in Turkey.

Detailed description: Smoking has long been recognized as a significant public health concern associated with great morbidity and mortality. Although smoking rates have decreased in high income countries, these trends have not been noted for tow and middle income countries. This is especially true in Turkey, which was ranked 6th in the world in smoking consumption. Between 51-63% of Turkish men and 24-26% of Turkish women 15 years of age and older are smokers. With lung cancer the leading cancer-related cause of death for both men and women, effective and accessible smoking cessation interventions are needed. Cell phone technology represents a unique opportunity to deliver evidenced-based smoking cessation behavioral treatments through a delivery mechanism already widely adopted by adults. An estimated 35 million Turks were using cell phones, making them 1.8 times more common than land lines. Cell phone interventions are a unique delivery method because of their 'always on' capability. The rapid uptake of cell phones allows us to potentially reach those who might otherwise not utilize smoking cessation services.

We designed and evaluated SMS Turkey, an evidenced-based smoking intervention that takes advantage of technologies adopted by adult smokers in Turkey. The primary outcome measure is sustained abstinence 12 weeks after quit day, confirmed with a carbon monoxide (CO) reading of 8 ppm or less. Sustained abstinence was defined as 5 or fewer cigarettes smoked since the quit date, per West et al. Secondary outcome measures included: 7-day and 30-day point prevalence of smoking behavior at 3 months; CO-verified 7-day point prevalence at 4 weeks; and reduction in cigarettes per day for those who are smoking at 3 months.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older
* Currently smoking every day
* Owning a TXT-capable cell phone
* Sent or received TXT messages at least once in the past year
* Living in Ankara (to ease technology support if necessary)
* Agreement to set quit day in 15 days from enrollment date
* Agreement to verification of smoking cessation using a carbon monoxide breath monitor

Exclusion Criteria:

• No chronic disease.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Carbon Monoxide-verified Continuous Abstinence at 12 Weeks
timeFrame: 12-weeks post-quit day
Secondary outcomes:
measure: CO-verified 7-day Point Prevalence Abstinence at 4 Weeks
timeFrame: 4 weeks
measure: Self-reported 7-day Point Prevalence Abstinence at 12 Weeks
timeFrame: 12 weeks
measure: Self-reported 30-day Point Prevalence Abstinence at 12 Weeks
timeFrame: 12 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Ankara
country: Turkey
facility: Hacettepe University
Study officials:
affiliation: Center for Innovative Public Health Research
name: Michele Ybarra, MPH PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Ybarra ML, Bagci Bosi AT, Bilir N, Holtrop JS, Korchmaros J, Emri S. Interest in technology-based and traditional smoking cessation programs among adult smokers in Ankara, Turkey. Tob Induc Dis. 2011 Aug 1;9(1):10. doi: 10.1186/1617-9625-9-10.
citation: Ybarra ML, Holtrop JS, Bagci Bosi AT, Emri S. Design considerations in developing a text messaging program aimed at smoking cessation. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Jul 24;14(4):e103. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2061.
citation: Ybarra M, Bagci Bosi AT, Korchmaros J, Emri S. A text messaging-based smoking cessation program for adult smokers: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Dec 27;14(6):e172. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2231.
citation: Ybarra ML, Holtrop JS, Bagci Bosi AT, Bilir N, Korchmaros JD, Salih Emri AK. Feasibility and acceptability of a text messaging-based smoking cessation program in ankara, Turkey. J Health Commun. 2013 Aug;18(8):960-73. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2012.757399. Epub 2013 Apr 29.