title: The acceptance and commitment therapy for smoking cessation in the primary health care setting: a study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Access to effective smoking cessation programs is crucial to reducing smoking-related morbidity and mortality. Several studies have shown promising results for the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in managing psychological or behavioral health problems. However, to date, only one study has examined the feasibility of a telephone-based ACT for smoking cessation and it was conducted among a Western population, in the United States. This study reports a protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) examining the feasibility and potential efficacy of an individual, telephone-delivered ACT for smoking cessation in primary healthcare settings among a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, two-group design was chosen, with assessment at baseline (before intervention) and via telephone follow-ups at three and six months. Subjects will be proactively recruited from primary healthcare centers. Eligible participants will be randomized to either the intervention (ACT) or control group following the baseline assessment. Both groups will receive self-help materials on smoking cessation. Those in the ACT group will undergo an initial face-to-face session and two telephone ACT sessions at one week and one month following the first session, to be delivered by a counselor based on the treatment protocol. All of the participants will be contacted by telephone for follow-up assessments at three and six months. Treatment fidelity will be assessed by reviewing around one-fifth of audio-recorded telephone calls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this protocol describes the first RCT of a telephone-based ACT for smoking cessation. It is also the first RCT of ACT for smoking cessation on a Chinese population. The study will provide us with information about the feasibility of a telephone-delivered ACT within a Chinese sample. If effective, this trial will support the development of ACT treatment protocols that could be made available for use by a greater range of clinicians, and offer an evidence base to support alternative treatments for smoking cessation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01652508. Registered on 26(th) July 2012.
authors: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. yw.mak@polyu.edu.hk.
authors: Yim Wah
authors: YW
authors: Mak
authors: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong. alice.yuen.loke@polyu.edu.hk.
authors: Alice Yuen
authors: AY
authors: Loke
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013689:Telephone; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States