TXT2STOP is a UK pilot study of the CTRU's mobile phone text message-based smoking cessation intervention

Rationale

The 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 working together on a small pilot study first, to determine if young Londoners are interested and if it is feasible to run the study collaboratively from New Zealand.

Aims

The aim of the pilot is to test recruitment and retention (that is, to determine whether the intervention appeals to young Londoners who want to stop smoking); to ensure it is feasible to run the software programme that supports the study from New Zealand; and to obtain information that will help us to plan a large trial in the UK.

Design

This is a pilot randomised controlled study. Two hundred participants were randomised to receive either the intensive cessation programme or infrequent text messages reminding them about the study. The cessation programme consists of a count-down to a target quit date, an intensive phase of 5-6 text messages per day for 4 weeks, then a maintenance phase of 3 messages per week for 20 weeks. The text messages are a mixture of quitting tips, cessation advice, motivational messages, distraction and general interest. Participants are also able to request a tip for combating cravings on demand, and to be paired with a ‘quit buddy' to provide more social support from someone going through a similar process.

Update

Recruitment started in early April 2006 with radio advertising and flyers around central London. In just over three weeks we had reached the target of 200 participants and recruitment was closed. As their quit smoking text messaging programme continues to arrive over their mobile phones, we will follow participants at 4 weeks and 18 weeks to see how many have managed to remain quit.

Funding

Cancer Research UK

CTRU Investigators

Anthony Rodgers
Robyn Whittaker

Collaborators

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