A Stop Smoking In Schools Trial in three culturally different middle-income countries (ASSIST global): protocol for a randomised feasibility study
Abstract
Introduction Around 80% of the world’s smokers live in lower-middle income countries and smoking rates in China, Philippines and Indonesia are very high. Evidence suggests that most people begin smoking or become habitual smokers before reaching adulthood. This highlights the need for a smoking prevention intervention focused on young people. ASSIST (A Stop Smoking In Schools Trial) is a ‘peer-led’, school-based smoking prevention intervention, shown to be effective in the UK. The aim of the study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a full-scale effectiveness evaluation of an adapted version of the ASSIST intervention in China, Indonesia or the Philippines. However, due to issues with obtaining relevant approvals, China was removed from the trial with the approval of the funder and Trial Steering Committee, and the study will only be completed in Indonesia and the Philippines. Methods and analysis A feasibility mixed-methods cluster randomised controlled trial in 10 schools (six intervention, four control) in each of the two countries. Participants will be students aged c13–14 in mainstream (‘lower secondary’) schools. In addition to their usual education on smoking, intervention schools will receive the ASSIST intervention which is based on ‘diffusion of innovation’ theory, with new norms and behaviours promoted through: (1) peer modelling by locally influential individuals; and (2) information disseminated by them through their social networks. Control schools will…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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