Quit-smoking support for fathers of sick children

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a two-arm, parallel pilot randomized trial recruiting fathers who smoke from pediatric wards and outpatient clinics at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong, with recruitment extended to other public hospitals if needed. Participants are randomized to receive brief cessation advice, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) sampling, mHealth-based individual motivational counselling, and self-help materials versus usual care, with follow-ups at 1, 3, and 6 months. The primary clinical outcome is biochemically validated abstinence at 3 months, with additional outcomes at 6 months, self-reported point-prevalence abstinence, quit attempts, and smoking reduction; children's saliva cotinine will be collected at 3 and 6 months for validation. The trial also includes qualitative interviews with intervention participants at 6 months to explore acceptability and feasibility, and participants who report short-term abstinence receive modest cash incentives.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion criteria for parents：

* Parents (mainly fathers) aged ≥18 years and smoke at least one cigarette (including alternative tobacco products) daily in the past seven days
* Living with a child aged \<18 years who attended the clinic or were admitted to the pediatric ward
* Hong Kong residents able to read and communicate in Cantonese or Putonghua
* Owned a smartphone and can use an instant messaging app (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook) Inclusion criteria for children
* Children aged \<18 years who attended the clinic or were admitted to the pediatric ward
* Lives with at least one or more parents who smoke at least one cigarette (including alternative tobacco products) daily in the past seven days
* Able to provide biochemical samples (e.g. saliva) for purpose of research

Exclusion criteria for parents

* Smokers having a history of psychiatric/psychological disease or currently on regular psychotropic medications
* Smokers using smoking cessation medications or other smoking cessation services or projects Exclusion criteria for children
* Children who already have serious health diseases (e.g.chronic disease, genetic disease)
* Children who are participating in other clinical trials that may affect the results of this study
* Children who live in certain environments, such as those living in highly contaminated areas or areas with other potential disease-causing factors

Where it's running

• School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong
  Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Shengzhi Zhao, PhD
• Email: lubabezz@connect.hku.hk
• Phone: +852 6561 4500

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.