SHARPISH: study of self help and relapse prevention in smoking

ISRCTN ISRCTN36980856
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN36980856
Secondary identifying numbers HTA 09/91/36, v2, 07/04/2011
Submission date
25/07/2011
Registration date
28/07/2011
Last edited
24/03/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Cigarette smoking is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in the UK. Smoking is extremely addictive, and it can be very difficult to give up. There are many systems in place to try and help people to quit smoking, including within the NHS. These can be very successful, as about half of the people who go to NHS Stop Smoking Clinics manage to successfully stop smoking after several weeks. Unfortunately, many people start smoking again within one year of quitting, and so more resources are needed to help people remain smoke-free. Self-help materials, such as education booklets or online resources, have proven to be very effective for people with a range of different problems. Studies have shown that specially designed self-help materials can help to reduce the number of people who start smoking again after quitting. The aim of this study is to find out if a set of eight educational booklets (called Forever Free) could help more people to remain non-smokers after using NHS Stop Smoking Services.

Who can participate?
Adults who have successfully quit smoking for four weeks.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into one of two groups. Participants in the first group (intervention group) are sent a letter and the set of eight “Forever Free” booklets. The first booklet contains a summary of the issues related to quitting smoking, and the remaining seven booklets provide more detailed information about the issues covered in the first booklet. Participants in the second group (control group) are sent a letter and a leaflet that is currently used in the NHS Norfolk Stop Smoking service. All participants are interviewed over the telephone after three months and then again after 11 months to find out whether they are managing to stay smoke-free. After one year, participants are given a breath test to confirm whether they have successfully stopped smoking long-term.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.

Where is the study run from?
Norwich Medical School (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2011 to May 2014

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research – Health Technology Assessment Programme (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Fujian Song

Contact information

Dr Fujian Song
Scientific

Norwich Medical School
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
University of East Anglia
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)160 359 1253
Email fujian.song@uea.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA randomised controlled trial of self-help materials for the prevention of smoking relapse
Study acronymSHARPISH
Study objectivesThe study hypothesis is that the intervention, if effective, will improve abstinence rates, reduce repeated use of stop smoking services and might reduce use of other health care.
Ethics approval(s)Essex 1 REC, East of England REC Office 1, 20/04/2011, ref: 11/EE/0091
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSmoking addiction
InterventionThe study has two equal groups: one intervention and a control, each with 700 participants. Participants are people who stop smoking after treatment for 4 weeks in an NHS Stop Smoking clinics. Stop smoking advisors will give the Patient Information Sheet to all clients who attend their Stop Smoking Clinics.

The stop smoking advisors will again explain the trial to successful 4week quitters, answer questions, and invite those eligible, and interested, to participate in the trial and then take informed consent. All participants will then complete the baseline questionnaire.

The participants' paperwork will then be sent to the study researchers, at the University of East Anglia, where participants will be randomised (using a computerised allocation system). The intervention group will be sent a letter and the experimental intervention, which is a set of eight booklets designed to help prevent smoking relapse (called Forever Free). Booklet one is a summary of all issues, including an introduction of nicotine dependence, stages of smoking cessation, situations that are high risk for relapse, ways of coping with urges to smoke, and ways to handle an initial slip. The remaining seven booklets provide more extensive information on important issues for relapse prevention.

The control group will be sent a letter and the leaflet currently in use in NHS Norfolk Stop Smoking service (called Learning to Stay Stopped).

At two and eleven months following randomisation, a researcher will telephone all participants to assess the receipt, liking and use of the booklets, and also assess the key skills the manuals are trying to teach. At the final follow-up point, those people who report themselves as smoke-free, will be invited into the University of East Anglia to have this verified by CO-testing (expenses paid and £20 shopping voucher given in thanks).
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureProlonged abstinence from smoking between 4 -12 months. This will be confirmed by carbon monoxide, which can be considered as an objectively assessed outcome.
Secondary outcome measures1. 7-day self-report point prevalence abstinence at 3 months and
2. 7-day biochemically confirmed point prevalence abstinence at 12 months
3. EQ-5D
4. Use of resources and mediating variables
Overall study start date01/06/2011
Completion date31/05/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants1400
Key inclusion criteria1. Carbon monoxide (CO)-verified quitters at 4 weeks in the NHS stop smoking clinic
2. Can read English and sign the consent form to participate in the trial
Key exclusion criteria1. Pregnancy
2. From families in which one member has already been included in the study
3. Unable to read the educational material in English
Date of first enrolment01/06/2011
Date of final enrolment31/05/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University of East Anglia
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of East Anglia (UK)
University/education

c/o Miss Tracy Moulton
Research Contracts Manager
The Registry and Council House
Norwich
NR4 7TJ
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.uea.ac.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/026k5mg93

Funders

Funder type

Government

Health Technology Assessment Programme
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme, HTA
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 30/05/2012 Yes No
Results article results 01/07/2015 Yes No
Results article secondary analysis results 01/05/2016 Yes No
Other publications process evaluation 01/03/2018 Yes No

Editorial Notes

24/03/2017: Publication reference added.