mHealth-based Motivational Counselling Integrated with Nicotine Replacement Therapy Sampling for Fathers of Sick Children Who Smoke: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a proactive intervention to help fathers of sick children quit smoking. This study focuses on fathers who smoke daily and live with their children, aiming to increase smoking abstinence through a combination of brief advice, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sampling, and mobile health (mHealth) counseling. The pilot randomized trial will assess the intervention's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness, with follow-ups at 1, 3, and 6 months after enrollment. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group receives a 1-week free sample of NRT patches or gum to encourage quitting without pressure, along with motivational messages via WhatsApp over 3 months. The control group receives brief advice on protecting children from secondhand smoke and self-help materials without follow-up support. Additional counseling and referral to smoking cessation services are offered as needed. Throughout the study, researchers will collect survey data by phone and saliva samples from children for biochemical validation of smoking abstinence at 3 and 6 months. Participants in the intervention group will also be interviewed about their perceptions of the program. Primary outcomes include biochemically validated smoking abstinence at 3 months. Secondary outcomes cover abstinence at 6 months, self-reported quit attempts, smoking reduction, respiratory symptoms, and family well-being. Incentives are provided to encourage participation and completion of assessments.

Smoking Cessation for Fathers of Sick Children