Online mindfulness therapy as a smoking cessation aid in Malaysia: A randomized control trial

Hemanath Sinnathamby and Fredie Robinson and Nicholas Pang Tze Ping and Lim Eng Kean and Ong Shi Joe and Alyssa Suraya and Joshua Selvaraj and Lau Jia Qi and Lim Yong Xin and Vanushya Alagasan (2023) Online mindfulness therapy as a smoking cessation aid in Malaysia: A randomized control trial. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 23 (3). pp. 1-9. ISSN 2590-3829

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Abstract

Effective smoking cessation programs are crucial in helping smokers to achieve cessation, indirectly reducing smokingrelated morbidity and mortality. Several studies have shown promising results using mindfulness therapy and online platforms in smoking cessation. This study assesses the effectiveness of online mindfulness therapy (MT) as an aid in smoking cessation programmes compared with standardized behavioural approaches (SBA). A randomized control trial with a single-blind, two-group design was chosen, with assessment at baseline. Participants were recruited by advertising on social media platforms and accepted according to the eligibility criteria. The participants who fit the eligibility criteria were randomized and divided into two groups. Each group received three sessions of online therapy (MT or SBA) every 2 weeks with one telephone call each week as a reinforcement. Participants filled in questionnaires at baseline and end of the intervention (1st week and 5th week). The data was analyzed using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE). The number of cigarettes smoked per day post-intervention was significantly lower in the MT group compared with the SBA group (β: -3.50, 95% CI -4.62 to -2.39, p-value: < 0.001). The MT group recorded low Fagerstrom nicotine dependence tests at the end of the study, compared to low to moderate scores in the SBA group (β: -1.82, 95% CI –2.31 to -1.33, p-value: < 0.001). Furthermore, participants in the MT group reduced their urge to smoke more than the SBA group (β: -2.44, 95% CI -3.76 to -1.12, p-value: < 0.001). In conclusion, online MT is more effective in helping smokers in reducing the number of cigarettes smoked per day, nicotine dependence, and urge for smoking compared to SBA. Further follow-up studies using online platforms should be conducted to compare the effectiveness of online MT longitudinally.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Smoking cessation; Quit smoking; Mindfulness therapy; Standardized behavioural approaches; Nicotine dependence; Number of cigarettes; Urge for smoking; Addiction
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1-1270 Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1-1270 Public aspects of medicine > RA421-790.95 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive medicine > RA643-645 Disease (Communicable and noninfectious) and public health
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Depositing User:	ABDULLAH BIN SABUDIN -
Date Deposited:	26 Jul 2024 09:25
Last Modified:	26 Jul 2024 09:25
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/39263

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