TXTTaofitapaa: pilot trial of a Samoan mobile phone smoking cessation programme

Abstract

Background Smoking remains a major risk factor to good health across the Pacif-ic region. Samoa, like other Pacific nations, has signed up to the Framework Con-vention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to reduce the prevalence through actions in-cluding providing smoking cessation services. A text message cessation programme that had been proven successful in New Zealand was adapted and trialled in Sa-moa. The aims of this study were to trial the Samoan mCessation programme TXT-TaofiTapaa to determine the feasibility, acceptability and potential to help smokers in Samoa to quit. Methods One hundred smokers across Samoa were recruited to the trial but early technical issues meant not all received the programme immediately and therefore were not able to be followed up. Results Of the 72 participants providing follow up data, 28 (38.9%) reported abstinence for at least seven days at 1-month follow up. In addition, 68 (94.4%) said they liked the programme, 61 (84.7%) said they thought it would be effective for Samoans, 67 (93.1%) said they would recommend the programme to others, and 37 (15.9%) said that it helped them to try to quit smoking at least once. Conclusions Delivering a text message cessation programme (TXTTaofiTapaa) in Samoa is feasible, and smokers in Samoa appear to find it to be both acceptable and helpful. Implications This study adds to our knowledge about the adaptation of proven effective technology based smoking cessation interventions from high income countries with multifaceted tobacco control strategies, to different contexts. In this case, dealing with differences in culture, language, and the tobacco control environment.