Effect of A Group Tobacco Cessation Behavioural Intervention Among Patients with Mental Illness in Kenya: Results from a Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract Background: Individuals with mental disorders are more susceptible to initiating and sustaining tobacco use; unfortunately, most do not get support to quit. Group behavioural counselling, an effective low-cost strategy for cessation has been shown to be effective, yet has not been studied among this population in Kenya.Methods: Mentally ill tobacco users at Mathari Referral and Teaching Hospital’s Clinic for Substance Abuse Treatment in Nairobi, were recruited from September 2017-March 2019. Participants were allocated into intervention and control groups (1:1). Intervention group participants met in groups of 10 over 24-weeks to participate in group behavioural counselling sessions using a structured curriculum to promote cessation. Control group participants received usual care. The primary outcome was tobacco cessation at 24-weeks measured through salivary cotinine strips. Secondary outcomes included self-reported number of cigarettes/sticks used daily and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using the WHOQoL Brief Questionnaire at 24-weeks. Between-group event rates were compared using Cox proportional hazards models, while differences in HRQoL scores were analysed using paired t-tests.Results: Participants’ mean age was 35 (SD=9) years, 87% were male, and 42% had completed secondary education. Over half (65%) had substance use disorders (diagnosed) and 15% had major depressive disorders. Most participants (94%) used cigarettes at baseline and participants smoked for a mean of 13 (SD=11) years with an average of 14 (SD=7) sticks daily. Intervention group participants reported a higher cessation rate (15.2% vs. 0% at week 12;P=0.02 and 9.1% vs. 0%;P=0.10) at 24-weeks, with a lower number of sticks smoked (97% vs. 58.6%;P<0.0001) compared with control group participants at 24-weeks follow-up. Intervention group participants reported higher change in HRQoL scores compared to control participants in physical (30.6% vs. 10.4%;OR=3.79 [95% CI,1.25-11.48]) and environmental domains (34.7% vs. 8.3%;OR=5.84 [95% CI,1.79-19.03]) at end of study.Conclusion: The group behavioural intervention among tobacco using Kenyans with mental illness led to improved tobacco cessation outcomes. Trial registration number: NCT04013724