A pilot randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of a ‘lung age’ intervention on smoking cessation: study protocol

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of the 'lung age' intervention on smoking cessation rates, smoking abstinence self-efficacy, nicotine dependence and behavioural change among the smoking population in Singapore. BACKGROUND: Tobacco use has been linked to several preventable chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancers and respiratory diseases. Despite numerous health education attempts to promote smoking cessation, there has been a sustained increase in smoking rates worldwide, including in Singapore. DESIGN: A pilot randomized controlled trial. METHODS: A convenience sample of 108 smoking individuals will be recruited from population health screenings conducted by a tertiary public hospital in Singapore, with 54 participants in the experimental group and 54 in the control group. Participants in the experimental group will receive a lung age intervention, consisting of lung age determination and education as well as smoking cessation advice, while the researchers will provide those in the control group with the usual smoking education. Outcome measures include smoking cessation rates, smoking abstinence self-efficacy, nicotine dependence and assessment of the stages of behavioural change. Data will be collected at the baseline and again at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. DISCUSSION: This study offers an additional intervention to improve smoking cessation rates in Singapore. It aims to reduce or delay the onset of smoking-related chronic diseases such as coronary heart diseases and cancer, which would eventually reduce the healthcare burden in an increasingly ageing society. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN15839687.