A randomized controlled trial of group intervention based on social cognitive theory for smoking cessation in China

New training programs need to be developed to help Chinese smokers achieve quitting. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a group smoking cessation intervention based on social cognitive theory among Chinese smokers.

A total of 225 smokers were eligible for the study and were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=118) and a control group (n=107). The intervention group received the course soon after a baseline survey, whereas the control group received routine training in the first 6 months, and then took the same course. Effectiveness was evaluated at 6-month and 1-year follow-up from baseline.

After 6 months, 40.5% (47/116) in the intervention group and 5.0% (5/101) in the control group quit smoking (absolute risk reduction: 35.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 24.2-46.8%]). The 6-month continuous abstinence rate was 28.4% (33/116) in the intervention group and 3.0% (3/101) in the control group (absolute risk reduction 25.4% [95% CI: 15.6-35.2%]). At 1-year follow-up, the proportion of quitting and the 6-month abstinence rate in the intervention group were 35.8% and 22.0%, respectively. The factors associated with smoking cessation during the 6 month period were intervention (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=6.42 [95% CI: 2.46-13.28]), as well as anticipation of quitting (adjusted OR=1.46 [95% CI: 1.12-1.91]) and skill self-efficacy score in the baseline (adjusted OR=1.04 [95% CI: 1.01-1.07]). The same intervention was conducted in the control group after the 6-month study, in which a similar intervention effect was observed.

A smoking cessation intervention based on social cognitive theory among Chinese smokers is highly effective.