A prospective, randomised, controlled trial of smoking cessation through personalised intervention

INTERVENTION: Personalised video dramatising the potential consequences of having a heart attack secondary to smoking. The video is personalised by inserting photos of the subject, non‐smoking partner and family into the video. The video duration is 8 minute. It is viewed on 2 occasions separated by approximately one week, and is viewed by the participant alone, accompanied by a study investigator. CONDITION: Smoking PRIMARY OUTCOME: Smoking Cessation Rate. The outcome is assessed by carbon monoxide breath test, and subject self‐report. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Awareness of the negative consequences of smoking. This will be assessed on a number of dimensions including health risks and as measured by the Risk Perception Scale (adapted from Borelli et. al., 2010). Psychological impact of the personalised video. We will evaluate psychological impact using a Video Response Scale (7 point Likert scale) we have developed for this proposal, and will also assess subjective distress response to the video using the Impact of Event Scale (IES) (Horowitz et al.1979). Urge to smoke. This will be measured by the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges (QSU ? Brief Version) (Tiffany et al., 1991). INCLUSION CRITERIA: Smoking subject with non‐smoking spouse/partner willing to attend enrolment session (for having pictures taken)