Smoking CessationNCT03714971
WhatsApp Embedded in Routine Service Delivery for Smoking Cessation
A study testing WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation service in people with Smoking Cessation, run by Ege University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Background: Recently, the use of communication technologies and social media applications has become increasingly widespread to strengthen efforts for smoking cessation. The purpose of this study is; to assess the effect on success rate of the WhatsApp application which is embedded in the smoking cessation policlinic… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Smoking Cessation
- What is being tested?
- WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation service
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 127 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2017to 1 Oct 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Among patients applying to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic between March and October 2017,
- >18-year old volunteers who smoked at least one cigarette/day,
- using WhatsApp at least on four days of the week,
- accepting the 3-month follow-up were included in the study.
Who cannot join
- Besides people who did not meet the inclusion criteria, other patients applying to the clinic but who were referred to another centre without receiving any treatment,
- people who were not 'ready to quit' according to the TTM stages of change evaluation
- who had already quit before applying to the clinic were excluded.
- If two or more patients were living in the same house or had applied to the clinic together, only the first of these was included and the rest were excluded from the study, as they could show the arriving messages to their friend/ partner/ relative.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Ege University Faculty of Medicine Public Health Departmant
Izmir, 35100
About this study
Official title: WhatsApp Embedded in Routine Service Delivery for Smoking Cessation: Effects on Success Rates in a Randomized Controlled Study
Background: Recently, the use of communication technologies and social media applications has become increasingly widespread to strengthen efforts for smoking cessation. The purpose of this study is; to assess the effect on success rate of the WhatsApp application which is embedded in the smoking cessation policlinic service delivery.
Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled intervention study was conducted with 132 volunteers who were followed up at the EUTF Smoking Cessation Policlinic between March-July 2017. The intervention content based on transtheoretic model was prepared and 60 WhatsApp messages were delivered to participants for 3 months of follow up. For data collection, initial interview form and follow up form consisting sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, medical condition and treatment, were used. The success rate at first and third months were assessed by the point-prevalence regarding the previous week. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. For secondary outcomes; number of follow-ups, change in weight and continuity of medication were evaluated.
Findings: Success rate in the first month was 65.9% for intervention group and 40.9% in the control group; for the third month it was 50.0% in the intervention group and 30.7% in the control group. Being in the intervention group increased the success rate by 3,50 (1,30-9,44) times in the first month and 2,50 (1,08-6,40) times in the third month. The intervention was the only parameter effective in the two follow-up periods; the difference in success rate caused by gender, marital status and work-related social class has been eliminated after adjustment for the intervention.
Read the detailed description
Trial design
The study was designed as a RCT including two parallel arms: an intervention group receiving messages through WhatsApp Messenger operating on smart phones and a control group not receiving these messages. Both groups received the standard outpatient care of the clinic including aproximately 45 minutes face-to-face individual counseling at first contact ending with the decision of treatment and quit date, and a support booklet on quitting and subsequent follow-ups by the same clinician at 1st, 2nd, 4th weeks and 3rd month after quit date, either face-to-face at the clinic or by telephone if the patient does not come to the clinic for follow-up. The study was carried out in the smoking cessation clinic of Ege University Medical School's Public Health Department.
Sample size
An a priori power analysis was conducted with OpenEpi, Version 3 by selecting a two-sided test to compare 30% success in the control group at 1st month versus 60% success rate in the intervention group with an error margin of 5%, a power of 80% and an allocation ratio of 1:2 which yielded a minimum sample size of 36 in the intervention and 72 in the control groups. For possible loss to follow-up, the sample sizes were increased by 20% to 43 and 86, respectively.
Randomization
Among the 132 participants included in the study, 44 were randomly allocated to the intervention arm and 88 were randomly allocated to the control group. Among the intervention group , there were no losses to follow-up at 1st and 3rd months, but two participants have requested the cessation of the intervention after their 1st month follow-up.
Blinding
The study was single-blind as blinding of the helthcare providers to intervention assignment was achieved and the physicians conducted usual care for smoking cessation counseling.The physicians were blind throughout the follow ups as well. However, participants and the researcher who sent the messages were not blind.
Variables
Primary outcome variables: Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month of follow-up in the intervention and control groups. Quitting success rate at 1st month was calculated with point prevalence. History of cessation was based on self report and those who declared not smoked even a single puff on a cigarette at all in the past two weeks were considered as "successful" in the quitting attempt. The success rate at 3rd month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past ten weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt. The success rate at 6th month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past 24 weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt.
Secondary outcome variables: The total number of follow-ups in the 1st, 3rd and 6th month. Contacts were divided into two categories: face-to face contacts and telephone calls. The total number of routine follow-ups was classified as adequate when 3 or more in the 1st month and a total of 4 follow-ups was considered as adequate at 3rd month. At 1st month, at least one of these follow-ups was required to be face-to-face for adequacy. The continuity to drug/NRT therapy was categorized as <1 month or ≥1 month. Any change in weight was categorized as; has weight gain, no weight gain
Data collection Data collection was conducted at the Smoking Cessation Clinic of the Public Health Department at Ege University Medical School Hospital between March 2017-March 2018. The intended number of participants was achieved in 4.5 months and with the completion of the last follow-up, the study was finalized.
Analysis
The analyses were conducted according to the Intention-To-Treat (ITT) principle. The participants lost to follow-up were considered unsuccessful in quitting, as non-response could be expected in relapsing individuals, thus Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF) was not used.
Smoking cessation successes in the groups were compared with the incidences and relative efficacy of the intervention. Chi-square test, Student's t test in independent groups, single and multivariate logistic regression (enter method) were used for analyses. The multivariate analysis of factors associated with smoking cessation success was performed by using logistic regression analysis with two models. In the first model the investigators controlled for age and gender, in the second model controlling was for age, gender and all the other associated variables in univariate analyses. Analyses were made separately for the 1st, 3rd and 6th month. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Ethical issues
The study was approved by Ege University Medical School's institutional review board (decision no.16-12.1/11 on January 6, 2017). Written informed consent of every participant to enroll and receive WhatsApp messages were also obtained with confidentiality for name and address. With the blinding procedures described above, the delivery of routine service for all participants regardless of the allocation to intervention or control group was ensured.
- Conditions
- Smoking Cessation
- Being tested
- WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation service
- Keywords
- Whatsapp, smoking cessation, cessation service
- Medical subject headings
- Smoking Cessation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation serviceBehavioural
The routine service delivery was ongoing as the intervention was conducted. In addition to the routine procedures in service delivery described above, WhatsApp messages were sent according to the plan.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving WhatsApp messages | Experimental | Among patients applying to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic between March and October 2017, >18-year old volunteers who smoked at least one cigarette/day, using WhatsApp at least on four days of the week, accepting the 3-month follow-up were included In receiving WhatsApp messages group. Receives: Behavioral: WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation service |
| Not receiving WhatsApp messages | No intervention | In "not receiving WhatsApp messages" group; Stratification and randomization were both used to randomly allocate participants to both arms of the study. The intervention and control groups were first stratified according to physician and then gender, and later allocated in a simple random manner. Randomization was conducted using a computer spreadsheet. Allocation according to gender was conducted regarding the 2:3 female to male ratio in the routine cessation services and stratification according to physician aimed to have a balanced distribution among the different physicians working in the same cessation unit. As the target number of participants was small, further stratification was not applied. Simple random sampling was then used to allocate participants to each group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month
Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month of follow-up in the intervention and control groups. Quitting success rate at 1st month was calculated with point prevalence. History of cessation was based on self report and those who declared not smoked even a single puff on a cigarette at all in the past two weeks were considered as "successful" in the quitting attempt (19). The success rate at 3rd month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past ten weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt. The success rate at 6th month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past 24 weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt.
A decrease in success rates at six months is expected in comparison with 3 months as the intervention lasts for 3 months.
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
The total number of follow-ups
The total number of follow-ups in the 1st, 3rd month. Contacts were divided into two categories: face-to face contacts and telephone calls. The total number of routine follow-ups was classified as adequate when 3 or more in the 1st month and a total of 4 follow-ups was considered as adequate at 3rd month. At 1st month, at least one of these follow-ups was required to be face-to-face for adequacy.
Measured: 3 months
The continuity to drug,
The continuity to drug/NRT therapy was categorized as using the prescribed drug for <1 month or ≥1 month.
Measured: 3 months
Self reported difference in weight in kilograms since the first contact
Any increase in weight (kg) was categorized as; has weight gain, no weight gain.
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Oct 2018
- Study start1 Mar 2017
- Primary completion1 Jun 2017
- Study completion1 Oct 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (8)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Smoking CessationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ege UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The study was designed as a RCT including two parallel arms: an intervention group receiving messages through WhatsApp Messenger operating on smart phones and a control group not receiving these messages, with an allocation ratio of 1:2. Both groups received the standard outpatient care of the clinic including a 45-60 minutes face-to-face individual counseling at first contact ending with the decision of treatment and quit date, and a support booklet on quitting and subsequent follow-ups by the same clinician at 1st, 2nd, 4th weeks and 3rd month after quit date, either face-to-face at the clinic or by telephone if the patient does not come to the clinic for follow-up. The study was carried out in the smoking cessation clinic of Ege University Medical School's Public Health Department.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider
- Enrolment
- 127 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ege University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Seyfi Durmaz, Ege University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03714971
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 16-12.1/11
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Sep 2018
- Last updated
- 17 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Filozof C, Fernandez Pinilla MC, Fernandez-Cruz A. Smoking cessation and weight gain. Obes Rev. 2004 May;5(2):95-103. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2004.00131.x.
PubMed 15086863Munoz RF, Chen K, Bunge EL, Bravin JI, Shaughnessy EA, Perez-Stable EJ. Reaching Spanish-speaking smokers online: a 10-year worldwide research program. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2014 May-Jun;35(5-6):407-14.
PubMed 25211569Prochaska JO, Velicer WF. The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. Am J Health Promot. 1997 Sep-Oct;12(1):38-48. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-12.1.38.
PubMed 10170434Cheung YT, Chan CH, Lai CK, Chan WF, Wang MP, Li HC, Chan SS, Lam TH. Using WhatsApp and Facebook Online Social Groups for Smoking Relapse Prevention for Recent Quitters: A Pilot Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2015 Oct 22;17(10):e238. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4829.
PubMed 26494159Whittaker R, McRobbie H, Bullen C, Rodgers A, Gu Y. Mobile phone-based interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 10;4(4):CD006611. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006611.pub4.
PubMed 27060875Carlson LE, Goodey E, Bennett MH, Taenzer P, Koopmans J. The addition of social support to a community-based large-group behavioral smoking cessation intervention: improved cessation rates and gender differences. Addict Behav. 2002 Jul-Aug;27(4):547-59. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4603(01)00192-7.
PubMed 12188591Turner J, McNeill A, Coleman T, Bee JL, Agboola S. Feasibility of offering nicotine replacement therapy as a relapse prevention treatment in routine smoking cessation services. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Feb 1;13:38. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-38.
PubMed 23375024Durmaz S, Ergin I, Durusoy R, Hassoy H, Caliskan A, Okyay P. WhatsApp embedded in routine service delivery for smoking cessation: effects on abstinence rates in a randomized controlled study. BMC Public Health. 2019 Apr 8;19(1):387. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6727-z.
PubMed 30961557
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- WhatsApp Embedded in Routine Service Delivery for Smoking Cessation: Effects on Success Rates in a Randomized Controlled Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03714971
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 16-12.1/11
- Conditions
- Smoking Cessation
- Keywords
- Whatsapp, smoking cessation, cessation service
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 127 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ege UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Oct 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background: Recently, the use of communication technologies and social media applications has become increasingly widespread to strengthen efforts for smoking cessation. The purpose of this study is; to assess the effect on success rate of the WhatsApp application which is embedded in the smoking cessation policlinic service delivery.
Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled intervention study was conducted with 132 volunteers who were followed up at the EUTF Smoking Cessation Policlinic between March-July 2017. The intervention content based on transtheoretic model was prepared and 60 WhatsApp messages were delivered to participants for 3 months of follow up. For data collection, initial interview form and follow up form consisting sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, medical condition and treatment, were used. The success rate at first and third months were assessed by the point-prevalence regarding the previous week. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. For secondary outcomes; number of follow-ups, change in weight and continuity of medication were evaluated.
Findings: Success rate in the first month was 65.9% for intervention group and 40.9% in the control group; for the third month it was 50.0% in the intervention group and 30.7% in the control group. Being in the intervention group increased the success rate by 3,50 (1,30-9,44) times in the first month and 2,50 (1,08-6,40) times in the third month. The intervention was the only parameter effective in the two follow-up periods; the difference in success rate caused by gender, marital status and work-related social class has been eliminated after adjustment for the intervention.
Detailed description
Trial design
The study was designed as a RCT including two parallel arms: an intervention group receiving messages through WhatsApp Messenger operating on smart phones and a control group not receiving these messages. Both groups received the standard outpatient care of the clinic including aproximately 45 minutes face-to-face individual counseling at first contact ending with the decision of treatment and quit date, and a support booklet on quitting and subsequent follow-ups by the same clinician at 1st, 2nd, 4th weeks and 3rd month after quit date, either face-to-face at the clinic or by telephone if the patient does not come to the clinic for follow-up. The study was carried out in the smoking cessation clinic of Ege University Medical School's Public Health Department.
Sample size
An a priori power analysis was conducted with OpenEpi, Version 3 by selecting a two-sided test to compare 30% success in the control group at 1st month versus 60% success rate in the intervention group with an error margin of 5%, a power of 80% and an allocation ratio of 1:2 which yielded a minimum sample size of 36 in the intervention and 72 in the control groups. For possible loss to follow-up, the sample sizes were increased by 20% to 43 and 86, respectively.
Randomization
Among the 132 participants included in the study, 44 were randomly allocated to the intervention arm and 88 were randomly allocated to the control group. Among the intervention group , there were no losses to follow-up at 1st and 3rd months, but two participants have requested the cessation of the intervention after their 1st month follow-up.
Blinding
The study was single-blind as blinding of the helthcare providers to intervention assignment was achieved and the physicians conducted usual care for smoking cessation counseling.The physicians were blind throughout the follow ups as well. However, participants and the researcher who sent the messages were not blind.
Variables
Primary outcome variables: Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month of follow-up in the intervention and control groups. Quitting success rate at 1st month was calculated with point prevalence. History of cessation was based on self report and those who declared not smoked even a single puff on a cigarette at all in the past two weeks were considered as "successful" in the quitting attempt. The success rate at 3rd month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past ten weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt. The success rate at 6th month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past 24 weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt.
Secondary outcome variables: The total number of follow-ups in the 1st, 3rd and 6th month. Contacts were divided into two categories: face-to face contacts and telephone calls. The total number of routine follow-ups was classified as adequate when 3 or more in the 1st month and a total of 4 follow-ups was considered as adequate at 3rd month. At 1st month, at least one of these follow-ups was required to be face-to-face for adequacy. The continuity to drug/NRT therapy was categorized as <1 month or ≥1 month. Any change in weight was categorized as; has weight gain, no weight gain
Data collection Data collection was conducted at the Smoking Cessation Clinic of the Public Health Department at Ege University Medical School Hospital between March 2017-March 2018. The intended number of participants was achieved in 4.5 months and with the completion of the last follow-up, the study was finalized.
Analysis
The analyses were conducted according to the Intention-To-Treat (ITT) principle. The participants lost to follow-up were considered unsuccessful in quitting, as non-response could be expected in relapsing individuals, thus Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF) was not used.
Smoking cessation successes in the groups were compared with the incidences and relative efficacy of the intervention. Chi-square test, Student's t test in independent groups, single and multivariate logistic regression (enter method) were used for analyses. The multivariate analysis of factors associated with smoking cessation success was performed by using logistic regression analysis with two models. In the first model the investigators controlled for age and gender, in the second model controlling was for age, gender and all the other associated variables in univariate analyses. Analyses were made separately for the 1st, 3rd and 6th month. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Ethical issues
The study was approved by Ege University Medical School's institutional review board (decision no.16-12.1/11 on January 6, 2017). Written informed consent of every participant to enroll and receive WhatsApp messages were also obtained with confidentiality for name and address. With the blinding procedures described above, the delivery of routine service for all participants regardless of the allocation to intervention or control group was ensured.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, care provider)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The study was designed as a RCT including two parallel arms: an intervention group receiving messages through WhatsApp Messenger operating on smart phones and a control group not receiving these messages, with an allocation ratio of 1:2. Both groups received the standard outpatient care of the clinic including a 45-60 minutes face-to-face individual counseling at first contact ending with the decision of treatment and quit date, and a support booklet on quitting and subsequent follow-ups by the same clinician at 1st, 2nd, 4th weeks and 3rd month after quit date, either face-to-face at the clinic or by telephone if the patient does not come to the clinic for follow-up. The study was carried out in the smoking cessation clinic of Ege University Medical School's Public Health Department.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving WhatsApp messages | Experimental | Behavioral: WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation serviceAmong patients applying to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic between March and October 2017, >18-year old volunteers who smoked at least one cigarette/day, using WhatsApp at least on four days of the week, accepting the 3-month follow-up were included In receiving WhatsApp messages group. |
| Not receiving WhatsApp messages | No intervention | –In "not receiving WhatsApp messages" group; Stratification and randomization were both used to randomly allocate participants to both arms of the study. The intervention and control groups were first stratified according to physician and then gender, and later allocated in a simple random manner. Randomization was conducted using a computer spreadsheet. Allocation according to gender was conducted regarding the 2:3 female to male ratio in the routine cessation services and stratification according to physician aimed to have a balanced distribution among the different physicians working in the same cessation unit. As the target number of participants was small, further stratification was not applied. Simple random sampling was then used to allocate participants to each group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Among patients applying to the smoking cessation outpatient clinic between March and October 2017,
- >18-year old volunteers who smoked at least one cigarette/day,
- using WhatsApp at least on four days of the week,
- accepting the 3-month follow-up were included in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Besides people who did not meet the inclusion criteria, other patients applying to the clinic but who were referred to another centre without receiving any treatment,
- people who were not 'ready to quit' according to the TTM stages of change evaluation
- who had already quit before applying to the clinic were excluded.
- If two or more patients were living in the same house or had applied to the clinic together, only the first of these was included and the rest were excluded from the study, as they could show the arriving messages to their friend/ partner/ relative.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation serviceThe routine service delivery was ongoing as the intervention was conducted. In addition to the routine procedures in service delivery described above, WhatsApp messages were sent according to the plan. | Behavioural | Receiving WhatsApp messages |
Primary outcome
Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month
Time frame: 6 months
Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month of follow-up in the intervention and control groups. Quitting success rate at 1st month was calculated with point prevalence. History of cessation was based on self report and those who declared not smoked even a single puff on a cigarette at all in the past two weeks were considered as "successful" in the quitting attempt (19). The success rate at 3rd month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past ten weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt. The success rate at 6th month was calculated with point prevalence. In this point, not smoking at all in total in the past 24 weeks was considered "successful" in the quitting attempt. A decrease in success rates at six months is expected in comparison with 3 months as the intervention lasts for 3 months.
3 secondary outcomes
The total number of follow-ups
Time frame: 3 months
The continuity to drug,
Time frame: 3 months
Self reported difference in weight in kilograms since the first contact
Time frame: 3 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Sep 2026.
- Background: PubMed 15086863Filozof C, Fernandez Pinilla MC, Fernandez-Cruz A. Smoking cessation and weight gain. Obes Rev. 2004 May;5(2):95-103. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2004.00131.x.
- Background: PubMed 25211569Munoz RF, Chen K, Bunge EL, Bravin JI, Shaughnessy EA, Perez-Stable EJ. Reaching Spanish-speaking smokers online: a 10-year worldwide research program. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2014 May-Jun;35(5-6):407-14.
- Background: PubMed 10170434Prochaska JO, Velicer WF. The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. Am J Health Promot. 1997 Sep-Oct;12(1):38-48. doi: 10.4278/0890-1171-12.1.38.
- Background: PubMed 26494159Cheung YT, Chan CH, Lai CK, Chan WF, Wang MP, Li HC, Chan SS, Lam TH. Using WhatsApp and Facebook Online Social Groups for Smoking Relapse Prevention for Recent Quitters: A Pilot Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2015 Oct 22;17(10):e238. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4829.
- Background: PubMed 27060875Whittaker R, McRobbie H, Bullen C, Rodgers A, Gu Y. Mobile phone-based interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 10;4(4):CD006611. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006611.pub4.
- Background: PubMed 12188591Carlson LE, Goodey E, Bennett MH, Taenzer P, Koopmans J. The addition of social support to a community-based large-group behavioral smoking cessation intervention: improved cessation rates and gender differences. Addict Behav. 2002 Jul-Aug;27(4):547-59. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4603(01)00192-7.
- Background: PubMed 23375024Turner J, McNeill A, Coleman T, Bee JL, Agboola S. Feasibility of offering nicotine replacement therapy as a relapse prevention treatment in routine smoking cessation services. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Feb 1;13:38. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-38.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 30961557Durmaz S, Ergin I, Durusoy R, Hassoy H, Caliskan A, Okyay P. WhatsApp embedded in routine service delivery for smoking cessation: effects on abstinence rates in a randomized controlled study. BMC Public Health. 2019 Apr 8;19(1):387. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6727-z.
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017: monitoring tobacco use and prevention policiesLink provided by the sponsor.
- Türkiye Health Survey, 2016Link provided by the sponsor.
- WhatsApp: number of users 2013-2017Link provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing WhatsApp embedded in smoking cessation service in people with Smoking Cessation, run by Ege University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Quitting success rates at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th month (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03714971, which also lists 8 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Sep 2026.