SCIMITAR+ extension version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Smoking Cessation Intervention for Severe Mental Ill Health Trial (SCIMITAR): a definitive randomised evaluation of a bespoke smoking cessation service. Extended follow up.
IRAS ID
258585
Contact name
Simon Gilbody
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of York
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN72955454
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Smoking significantly impacts the physical health of people with severe mental ill health (SMI) such as schizophrenia
or bipolar disorder. Compared to the general population, a large proportion of SMI patients smoke and are likely to be heavy smokers with greater nicotine addiction. However these patients have greater difficulty in quitting and are less likely to receive help in quitting. Currently available smoking cessation services and drugs are aimed at the general public and whilst people with SMI do express a desire to stop smoking they may require different strategies and greater support to help them quit smoking.
To address this problem the SCIMITAR pilot trial was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of delivering a ‘bespoke
smoking cessation’ (BSC) service tailored to individual SMI patients and piloting the methods of recruitment, retention and follow up prior to conducting this full trial, the SCIMITAR Plus trial.
In SCIMITAR Plus we aim to recruit 400 patients with SMI who will be randomly assigned to either BSC or usual care.
Participants will be asked to complete follow up questionnaires and carry out a breath carbon monoxide test (to check smoking status) at 6 and 12 months. For those assigned to BSC a mental health nurse trained to deliver smoking cessation interventions will become the their mental health smoking cessation practitioner who will work with the patient’s GP or mental health specialist to advise on quit smoking strategies, provide information, support and motivation sessions on cutting down to quit, setting quit dates and maintaining smoking abstinence.
SCIMITAR Plus will provide information on whether the BSC service is effective, and cost effective in helping people
with SMI to stop smoking.
In this extension to the SCIMITAR+ trial we will gather information on the longer term effectiveness of the BSC intervention by asking participants to complete a three year (post-randomisation) follow up.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0499
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion