Effects of message content on intention to quit smoking. (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effects of message content on intention to quit smoking.
IRAS ID
149812
Contact name
Maggie Cunningham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Stirling
Research summary
The study will establish if the way health professionals give information/advice to patients about quitting smoking has a positive or negative effect on intention to quit smoking. Information can be gains framed (quit smoking and you will feel better and may prolong your life) or loss framed (do not quit smoking and you will have a poorer post-surgery recovery and may die prematurely).
The study will be conducted using structured questionnaires capturing baseline measures of demographics, intention to quit smoking, smoking behaviour, nicotine dependency, expectancy beliefs, self-efficacy to quit smoking, risk perception and health locus of control beliefs. Participants will then be given the intervention of an information sheet and fridge magnet outlining the benefits of quitting smoking or the consequences of not quitting smoking. A follow up questionnaire will be conducted post intervention to collect the same measures as the initial questionnaire.
Analyses conducted will establish if there is a difference in intentions to quit smoking between the gains and the loss framing groups. Differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention data will be analysed in regards to intention to quit smoking, smoking behaviour and nicotine dependency. Further analyses conducted will determine whether expectancy beliefs, risk perception, self-efficacy to quit smoking and health locus of control beliefs are involved in intentions to quit smoking and in the relationship between framing and intention. Demographic information will be analysed to investigate if these factors have an effect on intention to quit smoking.
Therefore, if gains framing is found to have a more positive effect on patients’ intentions to quit smoking, this information could be used to advise health policy that the way information is framed can have a possible positive effect on smoking cessation, which will ultimately have more positive health outcomes within this patient group and save money for the NHS.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0403
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion