Hong Kong Med J 2023;29(Suppl 7):S4-8
Combining interactive communication and nicotine replacement therapy for smokers: abridged secondary publication
MP Wang 1, TH Lam2, K Viswanath3, RCK Cheng4, TTO Kwok5, DYT Cheung1, CKH Wong6,7, JJJ Lee1, HCH Chan8
1 School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
2 School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
3 Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Community-Based Research, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, United States
4 Department of Computer Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
5 Technology-Enriched Learning Initiative, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
6Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
7 Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
8 Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation, Hong Kong SAR, China
 
 
  1. Mobile healthcare enables high-reach, low-cost, and personalised smoking cessation support.
  2. We assessed the effectiveness of interactive communication technologies (instant messaging and chatbot) plus nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation in 664 smokers in Hong Kong.
  3. Compared with controls, the intervention group had higher rates of abstinence at 6 months (3.9% vs 3.0%, odds ratio [OR]=1.31) and 12 months (5.4% vs 4.5%, OR=1.21), but the differences were not statistically significant.
  4. Our findings have guided the establishment of two chatbots to promote smoking cessation services and COVID-19 vaccination.