Prevent non-communicable diseases by screening and helping emergency department patients adopt healthier lifestyles
Official title: A Proactive Approach to Prevent Non-communicable Diseases Through Screening and Educating Emergency Department Attendees to Adopt Healthy Lifestyles: A Randomised Clinical Trial
Run by Chinese University of Hong Kong · NCT06889792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether a brief screening, tailored advice, a resource leaflet, and a follow-up phone call can help adult ED patients with health-risk behaviors adopt healthier lifestyles.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1172 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | January 29, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06889792 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18 years) who are Chinese, triaged as semi-urgent or non-urgent and discharged home from participating Hong Kong EDs, who report at least one health-risk behavior and own and can use a smartphone with messaging apps.
✕Probably not a fit
People already diagnosed with NCDs and receiving regular outpatient care, those with cognitive impairment or serious mental illness, or those without smartphone/messaging access are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an assessor-blinded, multicentre randomized controlled trial enrolling 1,172 adult attendees from five acute hospital emergency departments in Hong Kong. Participants complete a behavioral risk questionnaire and basic measures (blood pressure, BMI) and are randomized to receive brief health warning and tailored advice based on self-determination and the theory of planned behaviour plus a resource leaflet and follow-up booster calls, or to usual care. Quality of life will be measured with the EQ-5D-5L and outcomes will focus on changes in health-risk behaviors and related measures over follow-up. Behavioral techniques such as the foot-in-the-door method and follow-up boosters are used to encourage adoption of healthier habits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce modifiable risk behaviors, lower future risk of non-communicable diseases, and improve participants' quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Some ED-based brief interventions have shown modest success for single risks (e.g., alcohol, smoking), but multi-behavior interventions based on self-determination theory are less well established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * being aged ≥18 years old Chinese * being triaged as semi-urgent (level 4) or non-urgent (level 5) and discharged home on the same day after receiving medical attention * having at least one health risk behaviour (tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity) * owning a smartphone and having an ability to use instant messaging applications (e.g. WhatsApp or WeChat). Exclusion Criteria: * having a poor cognitive state or mental illness * being diagnosed with NCDs and undergoing regular follow-ups in outpatient clinics * participating in another related study
Where it's running
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The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ho Cheung William Li, PhD — The Nethersole School of Nursing, CUHK
- Study coordinator: Ho Cheung William Li, PhD
- Email: williamli@cuhk.edu.hk
- Phone: +85239430889
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.