School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Nov 15;20(12):1519-1524. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx147.
To motivate smokers to quit, there is a need for enhanced smoking cessation (SC) recruitment and for innovative and proactive approaches to SC. This study evaluated the feasibility, efficacy, and cost of promoting SC in public outdoor areas where smokers gather to smoke (smoking hotspots).
We selected 14 smoking hotspots in Hong Kong for SC promotion in 2015. University students were trained as SC ambassadors to deliver brief SC intervention, and to recruit smokers for telephone follow-up. The proportion of smokers accepting the intervention components was recorded. Self-reported abstinence in the past 7 days and knowledge of smoking and health were assessed at the 6-month follow-up. The average costs of each smoker receiving our intervention and quitting were also compared.
Of 3,080 smokers approached, 1,278 (41.5%) accepted the souvenir and 920 (29.9%) received brief advice. Of the 210 (6.8%) who consented to the follow-up, 24.5% were aged 15-29 and 46.4% were aged 30-49. Of the 151 smokers successfully contacted within 1 month after recruitment, 16 (10.6%; 1.3% of the 1,278 who received any form of intervention) reported abstinence, and their overall knowledge improved. The average costs for a smoker to receive brief advice, consent to follow up by telephone, attempt to quit, and quit successfully at the 6-month follow-up were US$30, US$132, US$601, and US$1,626, respectively.
Promoting SC at smoking hotspots could be a feasible way to achieve satisfactory quitting outcomes at low cost and is useful in the absence of the strengthening of tobacco policies.
Our study indicates that outdoor smoking hotspots are feasible platforms for promoting SC and recruiting smokers for cessation services; satisfactory outcomes can be achieved at a reasonable cost. Our promotion was particularly useful for recruiting young smokers and those who want to quit. It is feasible and efficacious to raise smokers' awareness of SC when other tobacco control policies not feasible. Indoor smoking bans or other substantial tobacco control policies could enhance the efficiency with which SC is promoted.
为了激励吸烟者戒烟，需要加强戒烟（SC）的招募工作，并采用创新和积极主动的方法来进行 SC。本研究评估了在吸烟者聚集吸烟的公共场所（吸烟热点）中推广 SC 的可行性、效果和成本。
我们在 2015 年选择了香港的 14 个吸烟热点来进行 SC 推广。培训大学生作为 SC 大使，提供简短的 SC 干预，并招募吸烟者进行电话随访。记录吸烟者接受干预措施的比例。在 6 个月随访时评估过去 7 天的自我报告戒烟情况以及对吸烟与健康的认识。还比较了每位接受我们干预并戒烟的吸烟者的平均成本。
在接触的 3080 名吸烟者中，有 1278 人（41.5%）接受了纪念品，920 人（29.9%）接受了简短建议。在同意随访的 210 人中（6.8%），24.5%的人年龄在 15-29 岁之间，46.4%的人年龄在 30-49 岁之间。在招募后 1 个月内成功联系到的 151 名吸烟者中，有 16 名（10.6%；1278 名接受任何形式干预的吸烟者中 1.3%）报告了戒烟，并且他们的整体知识有所提高。吸烟者接受简短建议、同意通过电话随访、尝试戒烟和成功戒烟的平均成本分别为 30 美元、132 美元、601 美元和 1626 美元。
在吸烟热点推广 SC 可能是一种可行的方法，可以以低成本实现令人满意的戒烟效果，并且在加强烟草政策不可行的情况下非常有用。
我们的研究表明，室外吸烟热点是促进 SC 和招募戒烟服务的可行平台；以合理的成本可以实现令人满意的结果。我们的推广对于招募年轻吸烟者和那些想要戒烟的人特别有用。在其他控烟政策不可行的情况下，提高吸烟者对 SC 的认识是可行且有效的。室内禁烟令或其他实质性的烟草控制政策可以提高 SC 推广的效率。
