A mobile app based smoking cessation assistance using automated detection of smoking activity

Despite the ubiquity of smartphone ownership and the increasing integration of social engagement features in smoking cessation apps to engage users, thesocial engagement features that exist in current smoking cessation apps and how effective these social features are in engaging users remain unclear. To fill the gap in the literature, a content analysis of free and paid smoking cessation mobile apps isconducted to examine a) the presence of socialengagement features(e.g., social support, social announcement, social referencing) and non-social engagement features (e.g., personal environmental changes, goal setting), and b) their relationship with user ratingsand engagement scores (e.g., Mobile App rating scale [MARS]). The findings will not only extend the mobile health apps engagement typology,but also inform smoking cessation mobile apps design.

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Mobile App Usage Patterns of Patients Prescribed a Smoking Cessation Medicine: Prospective Observational Study

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/mhealth.9115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. e97 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marianna Bruno ◽

Marcia Wright ◽

Christine L Baker ◽

Birol Emir ◽

Eric Carda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Observational Study ◽

Prospective Observational Study ◽

Mobile App ◽

Usage Patterns

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Insights From the SmokeFree.gov Initiative Regarding the Use of Smoking Cessation Digital Platforms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Trends Analysis Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24593 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sherine El-Toukhy

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Preventive Measure ◽

Mobile App ◽

Time Segment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Digital Platforms ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

Period Data

BACKGROUND Smoking is a plausible risk factor for COVID-19 progression and complications. Smoking cessation digital platforms transcend pandemic-driven social distancing and lockdown measures in terms of assisting smokers in their quit attempts. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine trends in the number of visitors, followers, and subscribers on smoking cessation digital platforms from January to April 2020 and to compare these traffic data to those observed during the same 4-month period in 2019. The examination of prepandemic and postpandemic trends in smoking cessation digital platform traffic can reveal whether interest in smoking cessation among smokers is attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We obtained cross-sectional data from daily visitors on the SmokeFree website; the followers of six SmokeFree social media accounts; and subscribers to the SmokeFree SMS text messaging and mobile app interventions of the National Cancer Institute’s SmokeFree.gov initiative platforms, which are publicly available to US smokers. Average daily percentage changes (ADPCs) were used to measure trends for the entire 2020 and 2019 study periods, whereas daily percentage changes (DPCs) were used to measure trends for each time segment of change within each 4-month period. Data analysis was conducted in May and June 2020. RESULTS The number of new daily visitors on the SmokeFree website (between days 39 and 44: DPC=18.79%; 95% CI 5.16% to 34.19%) and subscribers to the adult-focused interventions QuitGuide (between days 11 and 62: DPC=1.11%; 95% CI 0.80% to 1.43%) and SmokeFreeTXT (between days 11 and 89: DPC=0.23%; 95% CI 0.004% to 0.47%) increased, but this was followed by declines in traffic. No comparable peaks were observed in 2019. The number of new daily subscribers to quitSTART (ie, the teen-focused intervention) trended downward in 2020 (ADPC=−1.02%; 95% CI −1.88% to −0.15%), whereas the overall trend in the number of subscribers in 2019 was insignificant (<i>P</i>=.07). The number of SmokeFree social media account followers steadily increased by <0.1% over the 4-month study periods in 2019 and 2020. CONCLUSIONS Peaks in traffic on the SmokeFree website and adult-focused intervention platforms in 2020 could be attributed to an increased interest in smoking cessation among smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coordinated campaigns, especially those for adolescents, should emphasize the importance of smoking cessation as a preventive measure against SARS-CoV-2 infection and raise awareness of digital smoking cessation platforms to capitalize on smokers’ heightened interest during the pandemic.

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Coping Strategies and Social Support in a Mobile Phone Chat App Designed to Support Smoking Cessation: Qualitative Analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11071 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Esther Granado-Font ◽

Carme Ferré-Grau ◽

Cristina Rey-Reñones ◽

Mariona Pons-Vigués ◽

Enriqueta Pujol Ribera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Mobile App ◽

Text Messages ◽

Basic Emotions ◽

Online Social Support ◽

The Social ◽

Quitting Smoking ◽

Free Environment

BACKGROUND Smoking is one of the most significant factors contributing to low life expectancy, health inequalities, and illness at the worldwide scale. Smoking cessation attempts benefit from social support. Mobile phones have changed the way we communicate through the use of freely available message-oriented apps. Mobile app–based interventions for smoking cessation programs can provide interactive, supportive, and individually tailored interventions. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify emotions, coping strategies, beliefs, values, and cognitive evaluations of smokers who are in the process of quitting, and to analyze online social support provided through the analysis of messages posted to a chat function integrated into a mobile app. METHODS In this descriptive qualitative study, informants were smokers who participated in the chat of Tobbstop. The technique to generate information was documentary through messages collected from September 2014 through June 2016, specifically designed to support a smoking cessation intervention. A thematic content analysis of the messages applied 2 conceptual models: the Lazarus and Folkman model to assess participant’s experiences and perceptions and the Cutrona model to evaluate online social support. RESULTS During the study period, 11,788 text messages were posted to the chat by 101 users. The most frequent messages offered information and emotional support, and all the basic emotions were reported in the chat. The 3 most frequent coping strategies identified were physical activity, different types of treatment such as nicotine replacement, and humor. Beliefs about quitting smoking included the inevitability of weight gain and the notion that not using any type of medications is better for smoking cessation. Health and family were the values more frequently described, followed by freedom. A smoke-free environment was perceived as important to successful smoking cessation. The social support group that was developed with the app offered mainly emotional and informational support. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis suggests that a chat integrated into a mobile app focused on supporting smoking cessation provides a useful tool for smokers who are in the process of quitting, by offering social support and a space to share concerns, information, or strategies.

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Use of gamification strategies and tactics in mobile applications for smoking cessation: a review of the UK mobile app market

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027883 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e027883 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nikita B Rajani ◽

Dominik Weth ◽

Nikolaos Mastellos ◽

Filippos T Filippidis

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Performance Feedback ◽

Game Design ◽

Success Factors ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Mobile App ◽

Design Elements ◽

The Uk ◽

High Level

ObjectiveMobile phone-based interventions have been proven to be effective tools for smoking cessation, at least in the short term. Gamification, that is, the use of game-design elements in a non-game context, has been associated with increased engagement and motivation, critical success factors for long-term success of mobile Health solutions. However, to date, no app review has examined the use of gamification in smoking cessation mobile apps. Our review aims to examine and quantify the use of gamification strategies (broad principles) and tactics (on-screen features) among existing mobile apps for smoking cessation in the UK.MethodsThe UK Android and iOS markets were searched in February 2018 to identify smoking cessation apps. 125 Android and 15 iOS apps were tested independently by two reviewers for primary functionalities, adherence to Five A smoking cessation guidelines, and adoption of gamification strategies and tactics. We examined differences between platforms with χ2tests. Correlation coefficients were calculated to explore the relationship between adherence to guidelines and gamification.ResultsThe most common functionality of the 140 mobile apps we reviewed allowed users to track the days since/until the quit date (86.4%). The most popular gamification strategy across both platforms was performance feedback (91.4%). The majority of apps adopted a medium level of gamification strategies (55.0%) and tactics (64.3%). Few adopted high levels of gamification strategies (6.4%) or tactics (5.0%). No statistically significant differences between the two platforms were found regarding level of gamification (p>0.05) and weak correlations were found between adherence to Five A’s and gamification strategies (r=0.38) and tactics (r=0.26).ConclusionThe findings of this review show that a high level of gamification is adopted by a small minority of smoking cessation apps in the UK. Further exploration of the use of gamification in smoking cessation apps may provide insights into its role in smoking cessation.

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Stay Quit Coach: A Mobile App for Smoking Cessation in PTSD Patients

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e533652013-093 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Eric Kuhn ◽

Julia Hoffman ◽

Laura Wald ◽

Josef Ruzek ◽

Miles McFall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Mobile App

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Analyzing the Adherence of a Mobile App in a Smoke-Quitting Program (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.19420 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marc Pifarre ◽

Jordi Vilaplana ◽

Francesc Solsona ◽

Francesc Abella ◽

Rui Alves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Conventional Treatment ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Mobile App ◽

Smoking Cessation Program ◽

Quit Smoking ◽

The Difference

BACKGROUND Many mobile apps have been made to quit smoking. Many do not have the support of specialists, and often are apps for self-guidance. There is no record of any study looking at the apps' adherence to patient treatments from hospitals, and therefore it is not known for sure if they serve to increase the adherence of treatments. OBJECTIVE Analyzing and evaluating the adherence of using a mobile app (TControl) on a smoking cessation program. METHODS TControl, an app to follow up and assist smoke-free patients. 197 patients to measure the effectiveness of the app for decreasing the number of relapses were analysed. RESULTS Actually, the difference between those using TControl is the number of relapses (7.7%), which is much lower than among those not using it (33.9%), and which could retain considerably more patients on the program than the conventional treatment. CONCLUSIONS TControl increased adherence in a smoke-quitting program. However, no correlation between adherence and success was found.

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Identification of Users for a Smoking Cessation Mobile App: Quantitative Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.7606 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

S K Leon Chevalking ◽

Somaya Ben Allouch ◽

Marjolein Brusse-Keizer ◽

Marloes G Postel ◽

Marcel E Pieterse

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Quantitative Study ◽

End Users ◽

Ordinal Logistic Regression ◽

Mobile App ◽

Intention To Use ◽

Dissemination Strategy ◽

Personal Innovativeness ◽

Quit Attempts

BACKGROUND The number of mobile apps that support smoking cessation is growing, indicating the potential of the mobile phone as a means to support cessation. Knowledge about the potential end users for cessation apps results in suggestions to target potential user groups in a dissemination strategy, leading to a possible increase in the satisfaction and adherence of cessation apps. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to characterize potential end users for a specific mobile health (mHealth) smoking cessation app. METHODS A quantitative study was conducted among 955 Dutch smokers and ex-smokers. The respondents were primarily recruited from addiction care facilities and hospitals through Web-based media via websites and forums. The respondents were surveyed on their demographics, smoking behavior, and personal innovativeness. The intention to use and the attitude toward a cessation app were determined on a 5-point Likert scale. To study the association between the characteristics and intention to use and attitude, univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS The multivariate ordinal logistic regression showed that the number of previous quit attempts (odds ratio [OR] 4.1, 95% CI 2.4-7.0, and OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.0-5.9) and the score on the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.8-0.9, and OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.8-0.9) positively correlates with the intention to use a cessation app and the attitude toward cessation apps, respectively. Personal innovativeness also positively correlates with the intention to use (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.4) and the attitude towards (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.4) a cessation app. No associations between demographics and the intention to use or the attitude toward using a cessation app were observed. CONCLUSIONS This study is among the first to show that demographic characteristics such as age and level of education are not associated with the intention to use and the attitude toward using a cessation app when characteristics related specifically to the app, such as nicotine dependency and the number of quit attempts, are present in a multivariate regression model. This study shows that the use of mHealth apps depends on characteristics related to the content of the app rather than general user characteristics.

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Theory-Based Social and Non-Social Engagement Features in Smoking Cessation Mobile Apps: A Content Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18179106 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (17) ◽

pp. 9106

Author(s):

Qinghua Yang

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Mobile Apps ◽

Mobile App ◽

Social Referencing ◽

User Engagement ◽

The Social

Despite the ubiquity of smartphone ownership and the increasing integration of social engagement features in smoking cessation apps to engage users, the social and non-social engagement features that are present in current smoking cessation apps and the effectiveness of these features in engaging users remain understudied. To fill the gap in the literature, a content analysis of free and paid smoking cessation mobile apps was conducted to examine (a) the presence of social features (i.e., social support, social announcement, and social referencing) and non-social engagement features (e.g., personal environmental changes, goal setting, progress tracking, reinforcement tracking, self-monitoring, and personalized recommendations) and (b) their relationships with user engagement scores measured by the Mobile App Rating Scale. In this study, 28.2% of the smoking cessation apps enable social announcement and 8.1% offered the social support feature. Only two apps provided a social referencing feature (1.3%). No app included reinforcement tracking, with the percentage of other non-social engagement features ranging from 9.4% to 49.0%. Social support (β = 0.30, p < 0.001), social announcement (β = 0.21, p < 0.05), and social referencing (β = 0.18, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of user engagement. Regarding the non-social engagement features, personal environment changes (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), progress tracking (β = 0.18, p < 0.05), and personalized recommendations (β = 0.37, p < 0.001) significantly predicted user engagement. The findings not only contribute to the mobile communication literature by applying and extending the theory-based mobile health apps engagement typology, but also inform the future architecture design of smoking cessation mobile apps.

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Challenges in the Development of e-Quit worRx: An iPad App for Smoking Cessation Counseling and Shared Decision Making in Primary Care (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11300 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Charles R Doarn ◽

Mary Beth Vonder Meulen ◽

Harini Pallerla ◽

Shauna P Acquavita ◽

Saundra Regan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Decision Making ◽

Smoking Cessation ◽

Shared Decision Making ◽

Subject Matter ◽

Iterative Process ◽

The United States ◽

Mobile App ◽

Shared Decision ◽

Subject Matter Experts

BACKGROUND Smoking is the leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, killing more than 450,000 Americans. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have a unique opportunity to discuss smoking cessation evidence in a way that enhances patient-initiated change and quit attempts. Patients today are better equipped with technology such as mobile devices than ever before. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the challenges in developing a tablet-based, evidence-based smoking cessation app to optimize interaction for shared decision making between PCPs and their patients who smoke. METHODS A group of interprofessional experts developed content and a graphical user interface for the decision aid and reviewed these with several focus groups to determine acceptability and usability in a small population. RESULTS Using a storyboard methodology and subject matter experts, a mobile app, e-Quit worRx, was developed through an iterative process. This iterative process helped finalize the content and ergonomics of the app and provided valuable feedback from both patients and provider teams. Once the app was made available, other technical and programmatic challenges arose. CONCLUSIONS Subject matter experts, although generally amenable to one another’s disciplines, are often challenged with effective interactions, including language, scope, clinical understanding, technology awareness, and expectations. The successful development of this app and its evaluation in a clinical setting highlighted those challenges and reinforced the need for effective communications and team building.

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