Personalized chat‐based support for smoking cessation among smokers with mental health symptoms in the workplace: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract Aims Smoking rates are disproportionately high among people with mental health issues. We evaluated the effectiveness of a chat‐based intervention paired with psychological support for workplace smokers with mental health symptoms. Design and setting A pragmatic, two‐arm, randomized controlled trial in 65 companies in Hong Kong, China. Participants 300 employees who smoked daily (84.3% male) with stress (Perceived Stress Scale‐4 ≥ 6), anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder‐2 ≥ 3) or depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 ≥ 3). Interventions Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group ( n  = 144) or the control group ( n  = 156). The intervention group received 20 instant messages and chat‐based support delivered by trained counselors over 3 months, using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The control group received 6 messages on general health. Both groups received a health talk and self‐help booklet at baseline, brief phone advice at follow‐ups and full‐course nicotine replacement therapy for continuing smokers at 6 months. Measurements The primary outcome was self‐reported 7‐day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 6 months after intervention initiation. Secondary outcomes included PPA at 1, 3, 9 and 12 months, changes in mental health symptoms and intervention engagement (chatting with counsellors). Findings By intention to treat, there was no evidence of a difference in 7‐day PPA between intervention and control group at 6 months [16.0% vs. 13.5%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.64–2.32]. At 12 months, there was weak evidence of an intervention benefit (21.5% vs. 13.5%, 1.76, 0.96–3.24), which was statistically significant after adjusting for baseline factors (adjusted OR = 2.61, 1.22–5.58, P  = 0.01). A greater reduction in anxiety symptoms over a 12‐month period in the intervention group was observed (adjusted b  = −0.28, 95% CI = −0.56 to −0.00, P  = 0.05). Conclusions There appears to be weak evidence for a benefit of a personalised chat‐based smoking cessation intervention plus psychological support on promoting smoking abstinence among workplace smokers with mental health symptoms.