COSMO
Research type
Research Study
Full title
an ambulance intervention for the Cessation Of SMOking
IRAS ID
327965
Contact name
Karl Charlton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 29 days
Research summary
Tobacco smoking is known to cause poor health and can shorten life expectancy. Those from deprived communities are more likely to smoke but less likely to engage in stop smoking programmes. People who are deprived are more likely to access healthcare through the ambulance service compared to those least deprived, so opportunities exist for paramedics to deliver a brief intervention aimed at helping people to stop smoking.
People aged between 18 and 65 years who access care through the ambulance service will be approached regarding study participation, once the reason for the emergency call has been managed. Those requiring emergency care/conveyance to hospital will not be approached. Paramedics will explain the study to potential participants and discuss with them the content of the 'what happens when you quit smoking' poster. Patients who wish to participate will complete 2 consent forms.
Patients admitted to hospital will be referred to the in-patient stop smoking team who will help the patient stop smoking, and then will refer the patient to the community stop smoking team when the patient is discharged. Patients conveyed to hospital but not admitted, or patients not conveyed to hospital, will be referred directly to the community stop smoking team. The ambulance research team will check with the stop smoking team which patients have remained with the stop smoking programme until 28 days.
The ambulance research team will also try and contact participants by telephone after 28 days to conduct a 5 minute interview with the participant about their experience with the stop smoking team/why they have withdrawn from the programme. All aspects of the study including the interview are voluntary and patients are free not to take part. The ambulance research team will inform the patients GP of their study participation if the patient agrees.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0175
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion