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Background: While text messaging has proven effective for smoking cessation (SC), engagement in the intervention remains suboptimal. Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether using more interactive and adaptive instant messaging (IM) apps on smartphones, which enable personalization and chatting with SC advisors, can enhance SC outcomes beyond the provision of brief SC advice and active referral (AR) to SC services. Methods: From December 2018 to November 2019, we proactively recruited 700 adult Chinese daily cigarette users in Hong Kong. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio. At baseline, all participants received face-to-face brief advice on SC. Additionally, they were introduced to local SC services and assisted in selecting one. The intervention group received an additional 26 personalized regular messages and access to interactive chatting through IM apps for 3 months. The regular messages aimed to enhance self-efficacy, social support, and behavioral capacity for quitting, as well as to clarify outcome expectations related to cessation. We developed 3 sets of messages tailored to the planned quit date (within 30 days, 60 days, and undecided). Participants in the intervention group could initiate chatting with SC advisors on IM themselves or through prompts from regular messages or proactive inquiries from SC advisors. The control group received 26 SMS text messages focusing on general health. The primary outcomes were smoking abstinence validated by carbon monoxide levels of <4 parts per million at 6 and 12 months after the start of the intervention. Results: Of the participants, 505/700 (72.1%) were male, and 450/648 (69.4%) were aged 40 or above. Planning to quit within 30 days was reported by 500/648 (77.2%) participants, with fewer intervention group members (124/332, 37.3%) reporting previous quit attempts compared with the control group (152/335, 45.4%; P =.04). At the 6- and 12-month follow-ups (with retention rates of 456/700, 65.1%, and 446/700, 63.7%, respectively), validated abstinence rates were comparable between the intervention (14/350, 4.0%, and 19/350, 5.4%) and control (11/350, 3.1% and 21/350, 6.0%) groups. Compared with the control group, the intervention group reported greater utilization of SC services at 12 months (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.01-1.56). Within the intervention group, engaging in chat sessions with SC advisors predicted better validated abstinence at 6 months (RR 3.29, 95% CI 1.13-9.63) and any use of SC services (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.14-2.43 at 6 months; RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.26-2.23 at 12 months). Conclusions: An IM-based intervention, providing support and assistance alongside brief SC advice and AR, did not yield further increases in quitting rates but did encourage the utilization of SC services. Future research could explore whether enhanced SC service utilization leads to improved long-term SC outcomes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03800719; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03800719 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mask-wearing in outdoor public places in Hong Kong was mandated on 29 July 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the impact of mandatory masking with no exemption for smoking on outdoor smoking., Methods: We conducted 253 unobtrusive observations at 10 outdoor smoking hotspots in 33 months from July 2019 to March 2022 and counted smokers and non-smoking pedestrians in fixed boundaries. We conducted interrupted time-series analyses on the monthly mean volume of smokers (persons per hour) using generalized linear models. The independent variables were as follows: time since the first observation, implementation of the mask regulation, time since the regulation, seasonality, and waves 1-5 outbreaks. We checked the robustness of the association using the daily mean volume of smokers as the dependent variable. Two sensitivity analyses were conducted to include the hotspot location or the number of all pedestrians as an offset., Results: Monthly outdoor smoking decreased immediately after the regulation (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.505, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.374 to 0.680, P < 0.001). Daily smoking analysis and the two sensitivity analyses supported the results. However, monthly outdoor smoking increased by 11% since the regulation (IRR: 1.110, 95% CI: 1.074 to 1.147, P < 0.001). An exception was observed at the most severe wave 5 outbreak when monthly outdoor smoking decreased (IRR: 0.415, 95% CI: 0.327 to 0.525, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Outdoor smoking fell immediately after mandatory masking, rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, and decreased again at the most severe wave 5., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Sun, Wu, Cheung, Wang, Chen, Leung, Zhang, Chak, Lam and Ho.)

Introduction: Observational and experimental studies have suggested that messaging on smoking-related COVID-19 risk may promote smoking abstinence, but evidence from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) is lacking., Methods: This was a pragmatic RCT in Hong Kong, China, to compare the effectiveness of communicating smoking-related COVID-19 risk with generic cessation support on abstinence. Both groups received brief cessation advice at baseline. The intervention group received messaging on smoking-related COVID-19 risk and cessation support via instant messaging for three months (16 messages in total), which highlighted the increased risk of severe COVID-19 and deaths, and potentially higher risk of viral exposure (e.g. due to mask removal) for smokers. The control group received generic text messaging support for three months (16 messages). The primary outcomes were biochemically validated 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA) at 3 and 6 months. Intention to treat analyses was used., Results: Between 13 June and 30 October 2020, 1166 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=583) or control (n=583) group. By intention-to-treat, validated 7-day PPA did not significantly differ between the intervention and control groups at three months (9.6% and 11.8%, relative risk, RR=0.81; 95% CI: 0.58-1.13, p=0.22) or six months (9.3% and 11.7%, RR=0.79; 95% CI: 0.57-1.11, p=0.18). A higher perceived severity of COVID-19 in smokers at baseline was associated with a greater validated 7-day PPA at six months, and a marginally significant intervention effect on changes in perceived severity from baseline through 6 months was found (p for group × time interaction = 0.08)., Conclusions: Communicating smoking-related COVID-19 risk via instant messaging was not more effective in increasing smoking abstinence than generic cessation support., Trial Registration: The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04399967., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2023 Weng X. et al.)

Introduction: Perceived risk of COVID-19 infection is associated with smoking behaviors, but the change in smoking across different settings are uncertain. We examined the associations of perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking with change in smoking at home and on the streets., Methods: We analyzed data of 1120 current cigarette smokers aged ≥15 years from a population-based telephone survey in Hong Kong. Perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking, change in smoking, intention to quit, and tobacco dependence were measured. We used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate adjusted risk ratio (ARR) for associations, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, intention to quit, and time to first cigarette after waking., Results: More current smokers reduced smoking on the streets (46.1%; 95% CI: 42.8-50.0) than at home (8.7%; 95% CI: 7.0-10.8). Perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking was associated with smoking reduction at home (ARR=3.29; 95% CI: 1.80-6.00, p<0.001) but not on the streets (ARR=1.13; 95% CI: 0.98-1.30, p=0.09). More smokers with stronger quit intention and lower tobacco dependence reduced smoking at home but not on the streets in those with high perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking., Conclusions: This is the first report showing that more cigarette smokers reduced smoking on the streets than at home, and the perceived increased susceptibility to COVID-19 due to smoking was only associated with smoking reduction at home but not on the streets. Improving smokers' awareness of the susceptibility to COVID-19 may be an effective strategy to reduce tobacco consumption and secondhand smoke exposure at home within the context of future respiratory pandemics., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. All the authors report that since the initial planning of the work, this study was supported by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health., (© 2023 Yao Y. et al.)

Introduction: Mobile interventions enable personalized behavioral support that could improve smoking cessation (SC) in smokers ready to quit. Scalable interventions, including unmotivated smokers, are needed. We evaluated the effect of personalized behavioral support through mobile interventions plus nicotine replacement therapy sampling (NRT-S) on SC in Hong Kong community smokers., Methods: A total of 664 adult daily cigarette smokers (74.4% male, 51.7% not ready to quit in 30 days) were proactively recruited from smoking hotspots and individually randomized (1:1) to the intervention and control groups (each, n=332). Both groups received brief advice and active referral to SC services. The intervention group received 1-week NRT-S at baseline and 12-week personalized behavioral support through SC advisor-delivered Instant Messaging (IM) and a fully automated chatbot. The control group received regular text messages regarding general health at a similar frequency. Primary outcomes were carbon monoxide-validated smoking abstinence at 6 and 12 months post-treatment initiation. Secondary outcomes included self-reported 7-day point-prevalence and 24-week continuous abstinence, quit attempts, smoking reduction, and SC service use at 6 and 12 months., Results: By intention-to-treat, the intervention group did not significantly increase validated abstinence at 6 months (3.9% vs 3.0%, OR=1.31; 95% CI: 0.57-3.04) and 12 months (5.4% vs 4.5%, OR=1.21; 95% CI: 0.60-2.45), as were self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence, smoking reduction, and SC service use at 6 and 12 months. More participants in the intervention than control group made a quit attempt by 6 months (47.0% vs 38.0%, OR=1.45; 95% CI: 1.06-1.97). Intervention engagement rates were low, but engagement in IM alone or combined with chatbot showed higher abstinence at 6 months (adjusted odds ratios, AORs=4.71 and 8.95, both p<0.05)., Conclusions: Personalized behavioral support through mobile interventions plus NRT-S did not significantly improve abstinence in community smokers compared to text only messaging. The suboptimal intervention engagement needs to be addressed in future studies., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04001972., Competing Interests: The authors have each completed and submitted an ICMJE form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. All the authors report that since the initial planning of the work, this research was funded by Health and Medical Research Fund Research Fellowship Scheme, Food and Health Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (Ref.: 03170087)., (© 2023 Guo N. et al.)

Introduction: How changes in smoking routine due to COVID-19 restrictions (e.g. refraining from smoking outdoors and stockpiling tobacco products) influence smoking behaviors remains understudied. We examined the associations of changes in smoking-related practices with quit attempts and smoking consumption in current smokers using a mixed-methods design., Methods: In a community-based telephone survey conducted between the second and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, 659 smokers (87.1% male; 45.2% aged 40-59 years) were asked about quit attempts and changes in cigarette consumption and five smoking-related practices since the COVID-19 outbreak. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (AOR), adjusting for sex, age, education level, chronic disease status, heaviness of smoking (HSI), psychological distress (PHQ-4) and perceived danger of COVID-19. A subsample of 34 smokers provided qualitative data through semi-structured interviews for thematic analyses., Results: Favorable changes in smoking-related practices, including having avoided smoking on the street (prevalence: 58.9%) and reduced going out to buy cigarettes (33.5%), were associated with a quit attempt (AOR: 2.09 to 2.26; p<0.01) and smoking reduction (AOR: 1.76 to 4.97; p<0.05). Avoiding smoking with other smokers (50.5%) was associated with smoking reduction (AOR=1.76; p<0.05) but not quit attempt (AOR=1.26; p>0.05). Unfavorable changes, including having increased smoking at home (25.0%) and stockpiled tobacco products (19.6%), were associated with increased smoking (AOR: 2.84 to 6.20; p<0.05). Low HSI (0-2) was associated with favorable changes (p<0.01), while high HSI score (3-6) was associated with unfavorable changes (p<0.01). Qualitative interviews revealed a double-edged effect of staying at home on smoking consumption and that pandemic precautionary measures (e.g. mask-wearing) reduced outdoor smoking., Conclusions: Amid the pandemic, favorable changes in smoking-related practices in smokers were mostly associated with quit attempts and smoking reduction, while unfavorable changes were associated with increased smoking. Smokers with higher nicotine dependence were more negatively impacted., Competing Interests: The authors have completed and submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest and none was reported., (© 2022 Zeng Y. et al.)

Introduction: We examined the association of workplace smoking cessation (SC) support from employers, in addition to SC interventions, and smoking abstinence., Methods: Smoking employees (≥1 cigarette daily, aged ≥18 years) from companies of various industries joined a workplace SC program in Hong Kong. Self-reported past 7-day point prevalence abstinence was measured at follow-up at 6 months. We assessed 14 types of workplace SC support with higher scores (range: 0-14) indicating greater support. Multivariable logistic regression examined the prospective association between workplace SC support and smoking abstinence, adjusting for intention to quit, nicotine dependence, self-efficacy of quitting, and sociodemographic characteristics. Average marginal effects were calculated to test if the association between overall workplace SC support and self-reported past 7-day PPA at follow-up at 6 months was modified by subgroups. We also interviewed employers from different companies to explore their perspectives of providing workplace SC support, and the data were analyzed by thematic analysis., Results: In 383 participants who received a heath talk, a self-help SC booklet, and 15 text messages, greater workplace SC support was associated with smoking abstinence (AOR=1.32; 95% CI: 1.08-1.61), including support for smoke-free environment (AOR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.08-2.11) and for SC attempts/actions (AOR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.21-3.07). The association did not differ by sex, age, intention to quit, nicotine dependence, company size or company type. Qualitative interviews found that employers provided workplace SC support to establish a good company image, cost-benefit considerations were important to the types of workplace SC support provided, and lack of SC knowledge was a barrier to providing workplace SC support., Conclusions: Greater workplace SC support was associated with more abstinence in a workplace SC program., Competing Interests: The authors have each completed and submitted an ICMJE form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. All the authors report that since the initial planning of the work the study was funded by Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, Department of Health, HKSAR (grant number: TCO/7-10/7) and article processing charges were partly supported by HKU Libraries Open Access Author Fund (Ref: OAAF2022-23-005)., (© 2022 Guo Z. et al.)