An integrated smoking cessation and alcohol intervention among Hong Kong Chinese young people: Study protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Young smokers always partake in both smoking and drinking. However, drinking undermines their likelihood to attempt quitting smoking or to successfully abstain from smoking. Hence, this trial will examine the feasibility of implementing an integrated smoking cessation and alcohol intervention in young Hong Kong Chinese people. Effect sizes of the integrated intervention (II) on self-reported and biochemically validated quit rates will also be calculated. METHODS: The study will be a three-arm randomized controlled trial in a convenience sample of 150 smokers aged 18-25 years with alcohol drinking. Participants will be randomized into a standard treatment (ST), II, or control arm. The ST group will receive a brief smoking cessation intervention based on the 5A (Ask, Assess, Advice, Assist, Arrange) and 5R (Relevance, Risks, Rewards, Roadblocks, Repetition) models. The II group will receive brief advice on alcohol use based on the FRAMES (Feedback, Responsibility, Advice, Menu, Empathy, Efficacy) model in addition to the brief smoking cessation intervention. Both the ST and II groups will receive booster interventions at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. The control group will receive leaflets on smoking cessation and alcohol reduction. Self-reported quitters at 6-month follow-up will be invited for biochemical validation. The primary outcomes are feasibility measures. The secondary outcomes are effect size of II on self-reported and biochemically validated quit rates at 6 months relative to control and ST. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics will be used to calculate the feasibility measures. The three arms will be compared using analysis of variance for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. Effect sizes of II for self-reported and biochemically validated quit rates at 6 months will be determined using the generalized estimating equation model.