Randomized, controlled pilot trial of a smartphone app for smoking cessation using acceptance and commitment therapy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to test the feasibility, acceptability, preliminary efficacy, and mechanism of behavioral change of a smartphone-delivered ACT application (SmartQuit) for smoking cessation compared to a standard guideline-based application (QuitGuide).
Results Summary
SmartQuit showed higher engagement (37.2 vs. 15.2 app opens) and promising quit rates (13% vs. 8%) compared to QuitGuide, particularly among participants with low baseline acceptance of cravings (15% vs. 8%). The results suggest ACT delivered via smartphone may be more effective than standard approaches, though the pilot design limits conclusions.
Population
Adult smokers recruited nationally (n=196).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) application for smoking cessation (SmartQuit) | increase | application engagement | adult participants | 37.2 times | participants opened their application an average of | #1 |
National Cancer Institute's application for smoking cessation (QuitGuide) | increase | application engagement | adult participants | 15.2 times | participants opened their application an average of | #2 |
smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) application for smoking cessation (SmartQuit) | increase | smoking cessation | adult participants | 13% | quit rates were | #3 |
National Cancer Institute's application for smoking cessation (QuitGuide) | increase | smoking cessation | adult participants | 8% | quit rates were | #4 |
smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) application for smoking cessation (SmartQuit) | increase | smoking cessation | those scoring low (below the median) on acceptance of cravings at baseline | 15% | quit rates were | #5 |
National Cancer Institute's application for smoking cessation (QuitGuide) | increase | smoking cessation | those scoring low (below the median) on acceptance of cravings at baseline | 8% | quit rates were | #6 |
BACKGROUND: There is a dual need for (1) innovative theory-based smartphone applications for smoking cessation and (2) controlled trials to evaluate their efficacy. Accordingly, this study tested the feasibility, acceptability, preliminary efficacy, and mechanism of behavioral change of an innovative smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) application for smoking cessation vs. an application following US Clinical Practice Guidelines. METHOD: Adult participants were recruited nationally into the double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial (n=196) that compared smartphone-delivered ACT for smoking cessation application (SmartQuit) with the National Cancer Institute's application for smoking cessation (QuitGuide). RESULTS: We recruited 196 participants in two months. SmartQuit participants opened their application an average of 37.2 times, as compared to 15.2 times for QuitGuide participants (p<0001). The overall quit rates were 13% in SmartQuit vs. 8% in QuitGuide (OR=2.7; 95% CI=0.8-10.3). Consistent with ACT's theory of change, among those scoring low (below the median) on acceptance of cravings at baseline (n=88), the quit rates were 15% in SmartQuit vs. 8% in QuitGuide (OR=2.9; 95% CI=0.6-20.7). CONCLUSIONS: ACT is feasible to deliver by smartphone application and shows higher engagement and promising quit rates compared to an application that follows US Clinical Practice Guidelines. As results were limited by the pilot design (e.g., small sample), a full-scale efficacy trial is now needed.