Prevent non-communicable diseases by screening and helping emergency department patients adopt healthier lifestyles
A Proactive Approach to Prevent Non-communicable Diseases Through Screening and Educating Emergency Department Attendees to Adopt Healthy Lifestyles: A Randomised Clinical Trial
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 1172 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Chinese University of Hong Kong Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hong Kong) |
| Trial ID | NCT06889792 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 this trial is running
Hong Kong
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.