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. 2018 Apr 2;18(1):364.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-018-4206-z.

Internet-based self-help smoking cessation and alcohol moderation interventions for cancer survivors: a study protocol of two RCTs

Ajla Mujcic  1   2 , Matthijs Blankers  3   4   5 , Brigitte Boon  6 , Rutger Engels  3   7 , Margriet van Laar  3
Affiliations

Internet-based self-help smoking cessation and alcohol moderation interventions for cancer survivors: a study protocol of two RCTs

Ajla Mujcic et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Brief interventions for smoking cessation and alcohol moderation may contribute considerably to the prevention of cancer among populations at risk, such as cancer survivors, in addition to improving their general wellbeing. There is accumulating evidence for the effectiveness of internet-based brief health behaviour interventions. The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness, patient-level cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of two new online theory-based self-help interventions among adult cancer survivors in the Netherlands. One of the interventions focuses on alcohol moderation, the other on smoking cessation. Both interventions are tailored to cancer survivors.

Methods: Effectiveness will be assessed in two separate, nearly identical 2-armed RCTs: alcohol moderation (AM RCT) and smoking cessation (SC RCT). Participants are randomly allocated to either the intervention groups or the control groups. In the intervention groups, participants have access to one of the newly developed interventions. In the control groups, participants receive an online static information brochure on alcohol (AM RCT) or smoking (SC RCT). Main study outcome parameters are the number of drinks post-randomisation (AM RCT) and tobacco abstinence (SC RCT). In addition, cost-data and possible effect moderators and mediators will be assessed. Both treatments are internet-based minimally guided self-help interventions: MyCourse - Moderate Drinking (in Dutch: MijnKoers - Minderen met Drinken) and MyCourse - Quit Smoking (MijnKoers - Stoppen met Roken). They are based on cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Both interventions are optimized in collaboration with the target population of cancer survivors in focus groups and interviews, and in collaboration with several experts on eHealth, smoking cessation, alcohol misuse and cancer survivorship.

Discussion: The present study will add to scientific knowledge on the (cost-)effectiveness of internet-based self-help interventions to aid in smoking cessation or alcohol moderation, working mechanisms and impact on quality of life of cancer survivors. If found effective, these interventions can contribute to providing evidence-based psychosocial oncology care to a growing population of cancer survivors.

Trial registration: Trials are prospectively registered in The Netherlands Trial Register (NTR): NTR6011 (SC RCT), NTR6010 (AM RCT) on 1 September 2016.

Keywords: Alcohol; Cancer survivors; Lifestyle behaviours; Psychosocial oncology; Smoking; eHealth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study is approved by accredited medical research and ethics committee Toetsingscommissie Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Rotterdam e.o., Rotterdam, The Netherlands; reference number protocol NL55921.101.16. Electronic informed consent from participants is obtained at registration to the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Competing interests

The interventions described in this study have been developed by the Trimbos-institute (Netherlands Institute for Mental Health and Addiction). If the interventions are found to be effective in reducing alcohol use or quitting smoking, they may be implemented by the Trimbos-institute.

The authors declare that they have no other competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of participant movement in the AM RCT and SC RCT
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Main page of new online intervention MyCourse – Quit Smoking (in Dutch)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Structure of online interventions MyCourse – Quit Smoking (SC) and MyCourse – Moderate Drinking (AM) Legend: Mail icons demonstrate semi-automatized email options to participants’ own social network. * Moderation plan/moderation date is possible in AM only
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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