Testing the effectiveness of rookexperts.nl: an intervention for increasing intention to quit among hardcore smokers based on motivational interviewing

INTERVENTION: This study compares an experimental intervention (i.e., ‘rookexperts.nl’; ‘smoke‐experts’) with a control intervention. The rookexperts.nl intervention is designed to make hard‐core smokers think about quitting and to increase their intention to quit. Rookexperts.nl incorporates motivational interviewing techniques, uses a self‐affirmation manipulation and gives tailored feedback. We use motivational interviewing to increase smokers’ self‐efficacy and to change smokers’ perceived cons of smoking and pros of quitting. We use a self‐affirmation manipulation to tackle smokers’ defensive responses. Tailored messages are used to make the website more relevant to the user. The control intervention is similar to rookexperts.nl in layout and length, but discusses the history and production of tobacco (instead of smoking‐related beliefs). The control intervention does not use motivational interviewing techniques, self‐affirmation or tailored messages. CONDITION: Smoking, Smoking cessation, Low socio‐economical status (SES) ; ; PRIMARY OUTCOME: Our primary outcomes are 1) intention to quit as measured by a scale of three items: ‘I have the intention to quit smoking someday’, ‘In the future, I will quit smoking’ and ‘Someday, I will quit smoking’. 2) willingness to visit a subsequent quitting intervention. At the end of the experiment, participants are offered the url to an online stop coach. We measure whether participants would like to see the website. ; ; ; ; Both primary outcomes will be measured at T1 (just after the experiment), at T2 (after two weeks) and at T3 (after two months).; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Our secondary outcomes are willingness to consider quitting, perceived self‐efficacy, and perceived cons of smoking and pros of quitting. All secondary measures will be measured at T1, T2 and T3. They all directly or indirectly predict intention to quit and smokers’ interest in a subsequent intervention. INCLUSION CRITERIA: We only include hard‐core smokers. Hard‐core smokers (a) are 25 years or older, (b) smoke daily, (c) smoke 15 cigarettes or more on average per day, (d) have smoked at least 5 years in their life, (e) have not attempted to quit smoking in the past year, and (f) do not intend to quit within the next 6 months.