The effect of motivational interviewing on smoking cessation intention in patients with lung cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) on smoking cessation intention in patients diagnosed with lung cancer. METHODS: Patients with lung cancer enrolled in the study were divided into intervention (n=21) and control (n=21) groups based on random sampling after power analysis. Patients in the intervention group received two MI sessions through real-time WhatsApp® video calling, administered by the researcher on day 1 of the study and 15 days later. The control group received standard care. At baseline, both groups completed a baseline questionnaire, the Smoking Cessation Intention Scale (SCIS), the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND), and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status scale. At the end of the study, all scales except the baseline questionnaire were re-administered to both groups. RESULTS: Post-intervention, the control group exhibited significantly lower SCIS scores than the intervention group (17.19 ± 4.7 vs 23.23 ± 4.5, p<0.001). The control group also demonstrated a significant decline in SCIS scores from pre- to post-test (22.90 ± 5.3 vs 17.19 ± 4.7, p<0.001). In the intervention group, mean FTND scores decreased substantially following MI (6.2 ± 2.5 vs 2.5 ± 2.0, p=0.012), whereas the control group showed a small, non-significant reduction in FTND scores (5.6 ± 3.1 vs 4.9 ± 3.2, p=0.178). ECOG performance scores remained stable in both groups across the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that two sessions of MI delivered via real-time WhatsApp® video calling did not improve smoking cessation intention in patients with lung cancer. However, it reduced nicotine dependence levels. These findings support the development of personalized cessation programs to bolster quit intentions in this high-risk population.CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered on the official website of ClinicalTrials.govIDENTIFIER: NCT06912113.