Aim of the study The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of nursing interventions on the outcomes of smoking cessation in patients with COPD who smoke.
Study design and setting The study had a single-blind, randomized controlled experimental design. To avoid bias, the participants were not told whether they were in the experimental or the control group. The conceptual structure of the study is given in Figure 1. This randomized clinical trial was based on the guidelines proposed by the Consolidated Standart of Reporting Trials-CONSORT 2010 (Supplementary file 1). The study was conducted between January 2016 and November 2017 at hospital and at homes of the patients with COPD enrolled in a public special branch hospital
Randomization An intervention group and a control group formed by using the research randomizer software. The program used random numbers to select participants and randomly assign them to the experimental or control group (600 participants were assigned to each group). Homogeneity test showed no significant difference between the measures of the groups in table 1 (p\>.05).
Blinding of data collectors and the statistician was implemented in this randomized blinded study. Another researcher who did not know the group assignments coded the data in the computer. After statistical analysis was conducted and research report was written, asisstant researcher explained the codes for experimental and control group. Therefore, blinding of the collectors, statistical analysis, and report writing was provided.
Study outcomes, The tools used to collect the data were as follows: Sosyodemographic characteristics questionnaire, Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and the components of the Transtheoretical model (Stages of Change (SOC) scale, Processes of Change (POC) scale, Self-Efficacy (SE) scale and Decisional Balance (DB) scale. In addition, measurements were performed using the spirometry available in the hospital where data were collected.
Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence: The test includes 6 items each of which is rated on a different scale. A total score ranging from 0 to 4 indicates low nicotine dependence, from 5 to 6 indicates moderate dependence and from 7 to 10 indicates high independence. The validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the scale was conducted. While the coefficient alpha value of the original scale was 0.61, cronbach's alpha value was 0.56 in Turkish version' validity and reliability study and 0.79 in the present study.
Stages of Change (SOC) scale: Prochaska and Diclemente (1983) explained smoking cessation through the gradual change process and developed the questions of change. Accordingly, people select one of the following corresponding to his/her situation: Precontemplation: I do not consider quitting smoking in the next six months. Contemplation: I am planning to quit smoking in the next six months. Preparation: I am planning to quit in the next 30 days. Action: I quit smoking less than six months ago. Maintenance: I have not been smoking for more than six months.
Processes of Change (POC) scale: The scale includes 30 items questioning the cognitive processes (15 items) and behavioral processes (15 items). Each process contains five sub-dimensions. It is a five-point Likert type scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1=never, 2=rarely, 3=occasionally, 4=often, 5=very often). The options determine which methods an individual uses in behavior change. Coefficient Alpha values range between 0.78 and 0.91. Cronbach's Alpha values of the Turkish version of the scale whose validity and reliability study was conducted ranged between 0.54 and 0.86. In the present study, Cronbach's Alpha values ranged between 0.61 and 0.92.
Self-Efficacy (SE) scale: The scale measures the degree of confidence an individual has in maintaining non-smoking behavior in situations triggering smoking. The validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the scale was conducted. While the coefficient alpha value of the original scale was 0.82, Cronbach's alpha values of was 0.85 in Turkish version's validity and reliability study and 0.93 in the present study. The scale consists of eight items rated on a 5-point Likert type scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1=not confident at all, 2=a little confident, 3=confident, 4=very confident and 5=extremely confident). The lowest and highest possible scores to be obtained from the scale are 8 and 40 respectively. The higher the score is the more successful the person is.
Decisional Balance (DB) scale: The scale has 12 items in two sub-dimensions: Pros of change (6 items) and Cons of change (6 items). The Coefficient Alpha value used to calculate the internal validity of the original scale and was 0.87for the Pros of change subscale and 0.90 for the Cons of change subscale.
The Cronbach's Alpha value for the Pros of change and Cons of change subscales was 0.88 and 0.82 in the Turkish version' and 0.71 and 0.85 in the present study. The items of the scale are rated on a five-point likert type scale ranging from 1 to 5 (1=not important at all, 2=very little important, 3=moderately important, 4=very important and 5=extremely important). The minimum and maximum possible scores to be obtained from the scale are 6 and 30 respectively. While high Pros of change subscale scores indicate that the individual is determined to change, high Cons of change subscale scores indicate that the person is not aware of the harms of the problematic behavior.
Study protocol Oral informed consent was obtained from eligible patients with COPD at initial interviews on the phone. The patients with COPD who agreed to participate in the study were assigned to the groups according to the research randomizer software. The patients in the intervention group and the control group separately were first invited to the hospital and obtain written informed consent was obtained at first interview.
At the intervention group; The researcher made spirometry measurements in the hospital. then appointment were made for the first of the four planned visits. In the first home visit, the aim and the process of the project were explained, the patient's stage of change was determined by administering the scales, and a TTM-based nursing intervention related to smoking cessation and COPD management was applied. The nursing intervention performed in the present study involved home visits and six-month periodic follow-up, health education, smoking cessation intervention in line with motivational interviewing principles and telephone counseling processes. During the second, third and fourth home visits, first, the patient's stage of change was determined and then appropriate nursing intervention was performed in accordance with the guidelines. Given his/her needs, the patient was informed about the disease using the training booklet and the booklet was given to the patient. Between the third and fourth home visits, the participants were contacted through telephone calls once a month to ensure the continuity of the motivation and thus the continuity of the intervention. At the end of the sixth month, the fourth home visit was paid, and after the final follow-up and measurements were performed, the patient was invited to the hospital and spirometry measurements were repeated. At the end of the study, carbon monoxide (CO) levels of the participants who stated that they quit smoking were measured and those with CO levels less than 5 ppm were accepted as non-smokers. This measurement was performed with a handheld carbon monoxide measuring device.
At the control group; No home visits were paid to the participants in the control group, they were invited to the hospital and were interviewed using the face-to-face interview method twice at the end of the first and sixth months, and measurements were performed. The researcher also given at the end of the sixth month, all of the nursing interventions, given to the intervention group, for the control group.
Intervention Education Material;The booklet prepared by the researcher based on the relevant literature. Then it took its final form after expert opinion was received and was published. In the booklet, information on the function of the lungs, the definition of COPD, symptoms of and factors causing COPD, relationship between the disease and smoking and effects of smoking cessation on COPD is given.
TTM-based Smoking Cessation Guide; The guide was prepared considering the needs of individuals at each stage according to the transtheoretical model. The guide introduces the characteristics of each stage of change of the model and shows what should be done to initiate the change in the individual, and information and strategies related to the issue. In the use of the guide, first the stage of change is determined using the Stages of Change Scale and then the procedure to be followed according to the guide is determined.
The nursing intervention performed in the present study involved home visits and six-month periodic follow-up, health education, smoking cessation intervention in line with motivational interviewing principles and telephone counseling processes.
Reminders; Between the third and fourth home visits, the participants were contacted through telephone calls once a month to ensure the continuity of the motivation and thus the continuity of the intervention
Sample size calculation; The sample size was determined using the Win episcope 2.0 program. The sample size was calculated as 78 with a 5% margin of error and at a 15% prevalence rate and 95% confidence interval, and it was decided to include 40 patients in the intervention group and 40 patients in the control group. However, due to the difficulties which arose in the data collection process, the planned number of people could not be reached. Therefore, after the completion of the pre-test measurements, the sample power was re-calculated using the G-Power Data Analysis program and the sample size was considered adequate (0.56-1.21). Then upon the completion of the data collection, the post-hoc power analysis (0.42-0.99) was performed. The study was completed including 68 people in the sample (33 in the intervention group and 35 in the control group).
Study budget;This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors
Data analyses; Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS V23. While the independent samples t-test and Mann Whitney U test were used to compare the intergroup data, the paired samples t-test and Wilcoxon test were used to compare intragroup pre-test and post-test values, and the chi-square test and Fisher Exact test were used to analyze the categorical data. p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The Fisher Exact test was used to check the significance.
Ethical aspects; Study approval was given by The Ethics Committee of Non-invasive Researches (decision number:B.30.2.ODM.0.20.08/1184). All participants were informed about this study and obtained oral-written informed consent.
