摘要：英国研究人员最近完成了一项利用手机短信帮助戒烟的大规模试验，结果显示，那些经常收到鼓励性短信的戒烟者，能连续半年不抽烟的成功率较其他人翻一番。
英国伦敦大学卫生与热带医学院的研究人员在英国新一期医学刊物《柳叶刀》上报告说，近6000人参加了这项试验。他们被分为两组，其中一组在试验开始后会连续5周每天收到5条鼓励戒烟的短信，随后连续26周每周收到3条短信，并且在自己烟瘾大发时还可以主动发短信要求鼓励；而对照组则每两周只收到一次感谢参与试验的短信。
试验中发送的鼓励性短信是由戒烟专家精心设计的，通过不同方式来帮助维持收信对象的戒烟努力，例如：“今天就是永远不再抽烟的开始，你可以做到”；“通常渴望吸烟的状态不会超过5分钟，你可以想办法分散自己的注意力，比如慢慢喝一杯饮料，直到不再想吸烟”等等。
半年后，研究人员调查了两组人的戒烟成功率，并通过测量唾液中可替宁的含量进行了验证。可替宁是烟草中含有的一种物质，如果受试者这段时间吸过烟，唾液中可替宁的含量就会较高。结果显示，对照组连续6个月不抽烟的成功率是4.9%，而接收鼓励性短信组的戒烟成功率达到10.7%。
领导研究的卡罗琳·弗里说，许多人想要戒烟却难以坚持下来，本次研究显示手机短信可以为他们提供帮助，一些参与试验的戒烟者认为这些短信的作用就像有一个朋友在身边鼓励自己，帮助他们抵挡了重新吸烟的诱惑。
生物探索推荐英文论文摘要：
Smoking cessation support delivered via mobile phone text messaging (txt2stop): a single-blind, randomised trial
Summary
Background
Smoking cessation programmes delivered via mobile phone text messaging show increases in self-reported quitting in the short term. We assessed the effect of an automated smoking cessation programme delivered via mobile phone text messaging on continuous abstinence, which was biochemically verified at 6 months.
Methods
In this single-blind, randomised trial, undertaken in the UK, smokers willing to make a quit attempt were randomly allocated, using an independent telephone randomisation system, to a mobile phone text messaging smoking cessation programme (txt2stop), comprising motivational messages and behavioural-change support, or to a control group that received text messages unrelated to quitting. The system automatically generated intervention or control group texts according to the allocation. Outcome assessors were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was self-reported continuous smoking abstinence, biochemically verified at 6 months. All analyses were by intention to treat. This study is registered, number ISRCTN 80978588.
Findings
We assessed 11 914 participants for eligibility. 5800 participants were randomised, of whom 2915 smokers were allocated to the txt2stop intervention and 2885 were allocated to the control group; eight were excluded because they were randomised more than once. Primary outcome data were available for 5524 (95%) participants. Biochemically verified continuous abstinence at 6 months was significantly increased in the txt2stop group (10·7% txt2stop vs 4·9% control, relative risk [RR] 2·20, 95% CI 1·80—2·68; p<0·0001). Similar results were obtained when participants that were lost to follow-up were treated as smokers (268 [9%] of 2911 txt2stop vs 124 [4%] of 2881 control [RR 2·14, 95% CI 1·74—2·63; p<0·0001]), and when they were excluded (268 [10%] of 2735 txt2stop vs 124 [4%] of 2789 control [2·20, 1·79—2·71; p<0·0001]). No significant heterogeneity was shown in any of the prespecified subgroups.
Interpretation
The txt2stop smoking cessation programme significantly improved smoking cessation rates at 6 months and should be considered for inclusion in smoking cessation services.
Funding
UK Medical Research Council, Primary Care Research Networks.
