Introduction: Smoking reduction can lead to increased success in quitting. This study aims to determine
if a client-focused motivational support package for smoking reduction (and quitting) and increasing (or
otherwise using) physical activity (PA) can help smokers who do not wish to quit immediately to reduce
the amount they smoke, ...
Introduction: Smoking reduction can lead to increased success in quitting. This study aims to determine
if a client-focused motivational support package for smoking reduction (and quitting) and increasing (or
otherwise using) physical activity (PA) can help smokers who do not wish to quit immediately to reduce
the amount they smoke, and ultimately quit. This paper reports the study design and methods.
Methods & analysis: A pragmatic, multi-centred, parallel, two group, randomised controlled superiority
clinical trial, with embedded process evaluation and economics evaluation. Participants who wished to
reduce smoking with no immediate plans to quit were randomised 1:1 to receive either (i) tailored
individual health trainer face-to-face and/or telephone support to reduce smoking and increase PA as
an aid to smoking reduction (intervention) or (ii) brief written/electronic advice to reduce or quit
smoking (control). Participants in both arms of the trial were also signposted to usual local support for
smoking reduction and quitting. The primary outcome measure is 6 month carbon monoxide confirmed
floating prolonged abstinence following participant self-reported quitting on a mailed questionnaire at 3
and 9 month post-baseline. Participants confirmed as abstinent at 9 months will be followed up at 15
months.
Ethics and dissemination: Approved by SW Bristol NHS Research Committee (17/SW/0223).
Dissemination will include publication of findings for the stated outcomes, parallel process evaluation
and economic evaluation in peer reviewed journals. Results will be disseminated to trial participants
and health care providers.
