World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence

The Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of the Department of Health -- 1833 183

The first Government funded Quitline, the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of the Department of Health was launched in September 2001 in Hong Kong. With establishment of the toll free Quitline, public are able to access smoking cessation counselling service and quitting information more easily and conveniently. In order to provide a more comprehensive quitline service, it was further upgraded to a 24-hour computerized call handling system in 2005 with a new number 1833 183. Other than the easily memorable number, its one-stop service allows callers to get access to various smoking cessation service providers in Hong Kong. These service providers include the Department of Health, Hospital Authority and other DH subvented organisations (Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Pok Oi Hospital and the Youth Quitline of the University of Hong Kong). Useful resources, include what’s new, nicotine dependency assessment, drug for smoking cessation, tips on smoking cessation, smoking cessation services, tobacco control legislation and direct conversation with counsellors, are available in Cantonese, Putonghua and English to meet different needs of clients.

All counsellors of the smoking cessation hotline are registered nurses who have received training by Mayo Clinic Nicotine  Dependence Center of the United States. Nurse supervisor of the Smoking Cessation Hotline Centre has been accredited as Tobacco Treatment Specialist by the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Centre.

Our Hotline services include:

Incoming Calls

Professional smoking cessation counselling services are provided by trained nurse counsellors of the Department of Health during office hours. Every smoker would be assessed for his/her smoking history, motivation and confidence to quitting. Information and tips as well as self-help materials for quitting will be provided. Counsellors also help clients to work out a suitable smoking cessation plan and refer to attend appropriate smoking cessation service according to their individual needs. Counsellors also respond to any voice messages left by callers during non-office hour and public holidays.

Fax-to-quit Programme

Fax-to-quit programme aims to offer healthcare professionals a quick and efficient way to refer clients to the Smoking Cessation Hotline. After they complete & fax the referral form to the quitline centre, counsellors will call the clients and provide counselling.

Proactive Phone Counselling Programme

Clients who are unable or unwilling to attend smoking cessation clinics are recruited to receive proactive phone counselling service. Follow up phone calls will be made by nurse counsellors according to a pre-determined schedule to provide smoking cessation counselling, psychobehavioural intervention and support through the year.