A large UK-based study of the CTRU's text message mobile phone-based smoking cessation intervention

Rationale

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is keen to find out if CTRU's mobile phone text message-based smoking cessation intervention will work as well in England as it did for young New Zealanders. We are collaborating on a large London-based trial of the programme, with original text message content updated by British experts, and using the original software programme designed by the CTRU IT team.

Aims

To determine if a text message mobile phone-based smoking cessation programme is effective at increasing 6-month quit rates compared to a control group.

Design

This is a large (5,800 participant) randomised controlled trial. Those randomised to the intervention group receive a 6-month programme of personalised text messages to assist with stopping smoking. Those randomised to the control group receive infrequent text messages reminding them about the study.

Study Status

This study is complete. The LSHTM and CTRU completed a pilot study of TXT2STOP in 2006. This 200 participant study demonstrated that it was feasible to deliver the programme from New Zealand and that interest in the programme exists in the UK with recruitment being completed in two weeks. The main trial commenced recruitment in 2007. IT and Data Management teams at the CTRU developed, tested and continued to run the study and message delivery systems from the CTRU.

Funding

This study is funded by the British Medical Research Council.

CTRU Investigators

Anthony Rodgers, Co-Investigator
Robyn Whittaker, Co-Investigator

As Co-Investigators, Anthony Rodgers and Robyn Whittaker were involved in assisting with study design and securing funding for the trial and are members of the Trial Steering Committee.

CTRU's IT and DM teams designed and developed the software and systems required to run the mobile phone programme and the study administration website. The IT team will be responsible for running and maintaining the entire system for the duration of the study.

Collaborators

Caroline Free, Principal Investigator, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Ian Roberts, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine