JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Several large studies have shown that the risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and wound-healing complications (including death), within 30 days of surgery is greater for smokers than non-smokers. However, there is evidence that even short-term perioperative smoking cessation may reduce postoperative morbidity. Over the past few years it has become more evident that SMS based interventions can help individuals quit smoking. The overall aim of the current project is to fill the knowledge gap on whether or not a SMS-based smoking cessation intervention can be effective in helping patients stop smoking perioperatively. This trial protocol concerns a randomised controlled trial that aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SMS-based intervention on smoking behaviour as an additional tool on top of current routine treatment. Method: A two-arm parallel groups randomised controlled trial will be conducted at 20 surgical departments in south-east Sweden. One group will be given access to the novel intervention, while the other group will be told that they will not be given access to the intervention. Both groups will be told that they have access to the surgical departments’ current routine for smoking cessation prior to surgery. All patients with elective surgery will be invited to the trial. Smoking outcomes will be measured through questionnaires at 3-, 6-, and 12 months after randomisation. Discussion: Structural problems and scarcity of time and resources lead to patients at most Swedish surgical departments simply being told that they should quit, and perhaps referred to a primary health care clinic. A SMS-based smoking cessation aid can be effective in helping individuals quit smoking, but is also a very simple and time efficient tool for surgical departments to administer. This trial will collect data on the effectiveness of the intervention, and further the growing evidence on SMS-based interventions for smoking cessation.