Smoking and multiple sclerosis: development and feasibility study of a MS-specific smoking cessation intervention

Tobacco smoking is an established risk factor for accelerated multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and worse MS symptoms. Generic smoking cessation programs might not fully meet the needs of people with MS (pwMS), as they don't address MS-specific barriers influencing smoking behavior (e.g., worries about relapses when quitting). Yet, no MS-specific smoking cessation interventions have been evaluated.

This study aimed to develop an MS-specific smoking cessation intervention.

This is an intervention development and initial feasibility study, informed by the Behavior Change Wheel and the design and evaluation framework for digital health interventions, which have been successfully utilized before, including in MS contexts.

Between January and December 2024, we developed MS-specific information videos to supplement an existing smoking cessation intervention. We used identified intervention functions and results from preceding studies to identify the most effective way to change smoking behavior in pwMS. For the evaluation of the videos, we developed a theory-based questionnaire, and recruited pwMS and MS experts via our MS day clinic for assessment. The evaluation informed final revised videos for integration into the existing program to form a MS-tailored smoking cessation intervention.

We identified five out of nine intervention functions from the behavior change wheel to be relevant and created six videos based on these functions. The content of the videos includes, among other things, education about the connection of smoking and MS, and persuasion and incentivization about the positive effects of quitting. Eleven pwMS and five MS experts assessed the material. Overall, the videos were perceived as understandable and appropriate in length in both groups. The modified smoking cessation intervention includes all videos, integrating them into a structure of five online-meetings across 3 weeks.

The successful development of education videos using the Behavior Change Wheel, as well as the positive findings from our feasibility testing underline the potential of our video-based approach in the context of smoking cessation for pwMS. Next, the modified smoking cessation intervention should be tested for feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. If successful, this approach could be implemented widely for people with MS.