Promoting Smoking Cessation in the Community Via "Quit to Win" Contest 2026: Engagement-Focused GenAI-based Chatbot for Real-Time Smoking Cessation Support

Sponsor
The University of Hong Kong
Study ID
NCT07649044
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Smoking Cessation

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • AWARD advice — BEHAVIORAL
    A brief (30-60 seconds) face-to-face or remote smoking cessation advice delivered using the validated AWARD model: Ask about smoking history; Warn about high health risks (accompanied by a health warning leaflet); Advise quitting as soon as possible and setting a quit date (to qualify for contest prizes); Refer to smoking cessation services using a referral card; Do it again - repeat the intervention at each follow-up, encouraging re-quitting after relapse or relapse prevention after success.
  • Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation — BEHAVIORAL
    A two-sided, colour-printed A4 leaflet covering: (1) absolute risk of death from smoking; (2) full list of diseases caused by active and second-hand smoking; (3) ten pictorial warnings of health consequences on one page for maximum impact; (4) benefits of smoking cessation; and (5) simple encouraging messages to quit.
  • Referral card — BEHAVIORAL
    A three-folded card containing brief information and highlights of existing smoking cessation services in Hong Kong, contact methods, motivational messages, and strong supporting slogans.
  • Self-help smoking cessation booklet — BEHAVIORAL
    A generic booklet provided covering: benefits of quitting, smoking-related diseases, methods to quit, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, a quitting declaration, and other practical tips.
  • Personalized active referral — BEHAVIORAL
    Smokers will be introduced to various SC services in Hong Kong (via the referral card) and motivated to use them. Well-trained SC ambassadors will assist smokers in choosing their favourite or most convenient type of service. Research staff will assist participants in booking or re-booking the SC services at the 1- and 2-month follow-ups (after very brief questionnaire surveys). Participants' contact information will be forwarded to SC service providers within 7 days, and providers are expected to contact participants within 1-2 weeks. Research staff will also monitor participants' use of SC services at each follow-up (1-, 2-, 3-, and 6-month) and, at the 1- and 2-month follow-ups, assist participants in booking or rebooking appointments if necessary. Investigators shall liaise with existing service providers and seek their assistance in promptly supporting our smokers.
  • 12 weeks of chatbot-based instant messaging support — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in the intervention group will receive 12 weeks of instant messaging support delivered by an LLM-based chatbot (GPT-4o or newer) on WhatsApp, supporting text and audio input. Using prompt engineering, agent techniques, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation, the chatbot delivers theory-based 5As/5Rs-structured interventions alongside freeform, on-demand support, with engagement features including personalisation, proactive check-ins, and interactive Quick Commands.
  • 12 weeks of human-led instant messaging support — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in the control group will receive 12 weeks of instant messaging support delivered by a trained human counsellor via WhatsApp. Using the same theoretical frameworks as the chatbot intervention, the counsellor will provide real-time behavioural and psychosocial support grounded in the 5As/5Rs models, Motivational Interviewing (MI), and evidence-based Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs). The support will be personalised according to each participant's sociodemographic characteristics, smoking patterns, quit intentions, and plans.
  • Reminder messages — BEHAVIORAL
    WhatsApp messages on follow-up survey reminders.

Study Details

The goal of this trial is to learn if chatbot-based instant messaging works to help smoking cessation in general adult smokers. It will also learn about the experience, attitude, and perception of using an LLM-based chatbot. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Will an engagement-focused LLM-based chatbot smoking cessation intervention have a non-inferior validated abstinence rate than the control group? 2. Will an LLM-based chatbot smoking cessation intervention have a non-inferior self-reported abstinence rate, smoking reduction rate, and smoking cessation services use rate than the control group? Researchers will compare an LLM-based chatbot smoking-cessation intervention to a human-led instant messaging support group (brief advice based on AWARD and personalised active referral) to determine whether chatbot-based instant messaging support promotes smoking cessation. Participants in the intervention group will receive: 1. AWARD advice 2. Personalised active referral 3. 12 weeks of chatbot-based instant messaging support (via WhatsApp)

Key Dates

First listed
Jun 15, 2026
Start date
Jun 27, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Oct 30, 2027
Completion
Jun 30, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
998 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

  • Experimental: Intervention group
  • Active Comparator: Control group

Primary Outcome Measure

Biochemically validated abstinence [ Time Frame: 6-month follow-up ]

Central Contacts

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