Mobile Phone-Based Smoking-Cessation Intervention for Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery: Protocol for a Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Trials
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Smokers face higher risks of cardiovascular, respiratory, and wound-healing complications post-surgery.
• Short-term perioperative smoking cessation may reduce these postoperative morbidities.
• Short Message Service (SMS)-based interventions are increasingly recognized for their efficacy in smoking cessation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if an SMS-based intervention effectively aids patients in quitting smoking before surgery.
• To evaluate the impact of a novel SMS program on perioperative smoking behavior.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 434 participants across 20 Swedish surgical departments.
• One group received a 12-week SMS program with daily messages and interactive modules; the control group received standard care.
• Smoking cessation was assessed via questionnaires at 3, 6, and 12 months post-randomization.

Main Results:

• Recruitment began in October 2018 and was expected to last 30 months.
• Initial results were anticipated approximately 3 months after the final recruitment date.
• The study aimed to identify intervention effects using logistic regression models.

Conclusions:

• Current perioperative smoking cessation support in Swedish surgical departments is often limited.
• An SMS-based smoking cessation aid offers a simple, time-efficient, and potentially effective tool for surgical patients.
• This intervention could improve outcomes by facilitating smoking cessation prior to elective surgery.