Dr Zhao Shengzhi Lubecca is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong (HKU). She was trained as a Registered Nurse and earned her bachelor’s degree in 2014 at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). She completed her Master of Public Health in 2015 and her PhD in 2022 at HKU.

Dr Zhao’s research focuses on developing and evaluating mobile-based behaviour change interventions, with an emphasis on rigorous study designs such as randomised controlled trials and more advanced approaches (e.g., adaptive intervention strategies). Her primary interests include smoking cessation, reducing secondhand smoke exposure, and addressing other addictive behaviours. Her work also extends to mental health and family well-being.

To date, Dr Zhao has published 65 research outputs, including 35 articles as the lead author in international, peer-reviewed journals. She has secured 12 competitive research grants, three of which she serves as the principal investigator. Her current projects include evaluating interactive mobile health interventions aimed at reducing secondhand smoke exposure for children, decreasing alcohol consumption among women, and promoting mental health among pregnant women.

1. Ge Y, Li M, Luk TT, Cheung DYT, Guo N, Tong HSC, Lai WY, Chan SSC, Wang MP, Zhao SZ*. Higher nicotine dependence and greater smoking abstinence in parental than non-parental smokers: A secondary analysis of smoking cessation trials. Front Public Health. 2025; 13:1687893. (IF:3.4 2024; Q1, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health 79/421, JCR 2024)
2. Li M, Luk TT, Cheung YTD, Guo ZQ, Siu KK, Guo J, Chan SSC, Lam TH, Ho SY, Zhao SZ*, Wang MP*. Effectiveness of Family-based Behavioral Intervention for Smoking Cessation in Low-income Households: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. eClinicalMedicine. 2025; 87:103420. (IF:10.0 2024; Q1, Medicine, General & Internal 11/332, JCR 2024)
3. Zhao SZ, Yin H, Yi J, Weng X, Wang MP. From packs to games: a qualitative study on children’s experiences and perceptions of cigarette card games in China. Tob Control. 2025; tc-2025-059342. (IF: 4.7 2024; Q1, Substance Abuse 4/58, JCR 2024)
4. Zhao SZ, Chan SK, Luk TT, Tong HSC, Lai VWY, Lam TH, Cheung DYT, Wang MP. Older age at smoking initiation predicts successful cessation in adults who smoke: A prospective study. Int J Drug Policy. 2025; 138:104742. (IF: 4.4 2024; Q1, Substance Abuse 6/58, JCR 2024)
5. Zhao SZ, Weng X, Wu Y, Cheung YT, Luk TT, Tong SC, Lai WY, Lam TH, Wang MP. Optimizing mHealth instant messaging-based smoking cessation support: a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART). Int J Ment Health Addict. 2024. (IF: 8.0 2022; Q1, Substance Abuse 2/38, JCR 2022)
6. Zhao SZ, Wu Y, Cheung DYT, Luk TT, Weng X, Tong HS, Lai V, Chan SS, Lam TH, Wang MP. Increase of unmotivated and hardened smokers in Hong Kong: a repeated cross-sectional trend analysis. Tob Control. 2024; 33(4):481-488. (IF: 5.2 2022; Q1, Substance Abuse 7/56, JCR 2022)
7. Zhao SZ, Luk TT, Wu Y, Weng X, Wong JYH, Wang MP, Tai Hing Lam. Factors associated with mental health symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:617397. (IF: 5.4 2021; Q2, Psychiatry 38/143, JCR 2021)
8. Zhao SZ, Luk TT, Guo N, Wang MP, Agnes AYK, Wong YM, Fong DYT, Chan SC, Lam TH. Use of mobile instant messaging chat group is associated with family functioning and well-being: a population-based cross-sectional study. J Med Internet Res. 2021; 23(3):e18876. (IF: 7.1 2021; Q1, Health Care Science & Service 10/109, JCR 2021)
9. Zhao SZ, Guo N, Wang MP, Fong DYT, Lai AYK, Chan SC, Lam TH, Ho SY. The Association Between Electronic Device Use During Family Time and Family Well-Being: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res. 2020; 22(10):e20529. (IF: 5.4 2020; Q1, Health Care Science & Service 10/107, JCR 2020)
10. Zhao SZ, Wang MP, Viswanath K, Lai A, Fong DYT, Lin C-C, Chan SS-C, Lam TH. Short Sleep Duration and Insomnia Symptoms were Associated with Lower Happiness Levels in Chinese Adults in Hong Kong. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019; 16(12):2079. (IF: 2.8 2019; Q1, Public, Environmental & Occupational Health 32/171, JCR 2019)