AI-powered Chatbot vs. Human Counselors in Smoking Cessation
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: 5A's/5R's advice, Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation, Self-help smoking cessation booklet, AI-powered chatbot support.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Smoking Cessation, Mobile Health. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- China
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Chatbot vs. Human Counselors in Smoking Cessation
Overview
This study aims to explore the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of AI-powered chatbot support in community smokers.
Detailed description
Smoking cessation remains one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide, with tobacco use being a leading cause of preventable death and disease. Despite extensive efforts, the success rates of smoking cessation programs remain low, necessitating innovative approaches to support individuals in their journey to quit smoking. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new possibilities in healthcare, including the development of AI-powered chatbots that assist individuals in behavior change, such as quitting smoking.
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effectiveness of AI-powered chatbot that simulates human counselors, compared to traditional human counseling in promoting smoking cessation among community smokers. The AI-powered chatbot, equipped with personalized interactions and real-time support, offers scalable and cost-effective assistance, potentially making it an accessible alternative to human counseling. However, human counselors provide empathy, tailored advice, and a nuanced understanding of human behavior that AI may not fully replicate. This study will explore which approach is more effective in helping individuals achieve long-term smoking cessation.
Interventions
- Behavioral 5A's/5R's advice
5A's (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange) for smokers who are ready to quit, and 5R's (relevance, risks, rewards, roadblocks, and repetition) for smokers who are not ready to quit. - Other Brief leaflet on health warning and smoking cessation
The contents of the leaflet include the absolute risk of smoking, diseases caused by active and second-hand smoking, horrible pictorial warnings of the health consequences of active and second-hand smoking, and the benefits of quitting. - Other Self-help smoking cessation booklet
The contents include information about the benefits of quitting, methods to quit, how to handle withdrawal symptoms, misperceptions of quitting, etc. - Behavioral AI-powered chatbot support
Participants will receive three months of AI-powered chatbot, equipped with personalized interactions and real-time support, via WeChat. - Behavioral Counselor individual support
Participants will receive three months of counselor-led individual support via WeChat. The regular messages and instant messaging on psychosocial support aim to provide cessation advice, increase self-efficacy and confidence, and social support and behavioral capacity of quitting.
Primary outcome measures
- Biochemical validated quit rate at 6 months follow-up [Time frame: 6 months follow-up]
Secondary outcome measures (6)
- Biochemical validated quit rate at 3 months follow-up [Time frame: 3 months follow-up]
- Self-reported 7-day point prevalence quit rate [Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up]
- Smoking reduction rate [Time frame: 3 and 6 months follow-up]
- Eligibility rate [Time frame: baseline]
- Consent rate [Time frame: baseline]
- Percentage of Participant Engagement with E-Messages and Counselor Chats [Time frame: 3 months follow-up]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- aged 18 and above, reside in Zhuhai for the next 6 months;
- smoke at least 1 cigarette or use e-cigarettes daily;
- Having a smartphone and a WeChat account, being able to use WeChat skillfully.
Exclusion criteria
- Smokers who have communication barrier (either physically or cognitively);
- Smokers who are currently participating in other SC programmes or services
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
China · 1 center
- Beijing Normal University — Zhuhai
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06570070 · AI-powered cessation support