Craving to Quit: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Smartphone App-Based Mindfulness Training for Smoking Cessation.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to test whether mindfulness training via a smartphone app could reduce smoking rates and weaken the association between craving and smoking.
Results Summary
The study found no difference in smoking abstinence rates between the mindfulness and control groups at 6 months, but mindfulness training weakened the association between craving and smoking, suggesting potential long-term benefits for quitting. Both groups showed reductions in cigarettes per day, craving strength, and frequency, along with increased mindfulness.
Population
Adults (72% female, 81% white, mean age 41 ± 12 years) seeking to quit smoking.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) | no change | smoking abstinence at 6 months | treatment starters | overall, 11.1%; MMT-ES, 9.8%; ES, 12.1% | No group difference was found in | #1 |
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) and experience sampling only (ES) | decrease | cigarettes per day | treatment starters | p < .0001 | showed a reduction in | #2 |
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) and experience sampling only (ES) | decrease | craving strength | treatment starters | p < .0001 | showed a reduction in | #3 |
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) and experience sampling only (ES) | decrease | craving frequency | treatment starters | p < .0001 | showed a reduction in | #4 |
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) and experience sampling only (ES) | increase | mindfulness | treatment starters | p < .05 | showed an increase in | #5 |
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) | decrease | association between craving and cigarettes per day | treatment starters | t = 4.96, p < .0001 for ES versus t = 2.03, p = .04 for MMT-ES | a stronger positive association between craving and cigarettes per day for ES versus | #6 |
mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) | decrease | relationship between craving and cigarettes per day | within MMT-ES | F(1,104) = 4.44, p = .04 | the relationship between craving and cigarettes per day decreased as treatment completion increased | #7 |
mindfulness training via smartphone app | no change | smoking rates | treatment starters | - | did not lead to reduced | #8 |
mindfulness training via smartphone app | decrease | association between craving and smoking | treatment starters | - | may help lessen | #9 |
smartphone app-based MMT-ES | decrease | association between craving and smoking | treatment starters | - | may lessen | #10 |
INTRODUCTION: Mindfulness training may reduce smoking rates and lessen the association between craving and smoking. This trial tested the efficacy of mindfulness training via smartphone app to reduce smoking. Experience sampling (ES) was used to measure real-time craving, smoking, and mindfulness. METHODS: A researcher-blind, parallel randomized controlled trial compared the efficacy of mobile mindfulness training with experience sampling (MMT-ES; Craving to Quit) versus experience sampling only (ES) to (1) increase 1-week point-prevalence abstinence rates at 6 months, and (2) lessen the association between craving and smoking. A modified intent-to-treat approach was used for treatment starters (MMT-ES n = 143; ES n = 182; 72% female, 81% white, age 41 ± 12 year). RESULTS: No group difference was found in smoking abstinence at 6 months (overall, 11.1%; MMT-ES, 9.8%; ES, 12.1%; χ2(1) = 0.43, p = .51). From baseline to 6 months, both groups showed a reduction in cigarettes per day (p < .0001), craving strength (p < .0001) and frequency (p < .0001), and an increase in mindfulness (p < .05). Using ES data, a craving by group interaction was observed (F(1,3785) = 3.71, p = .05) driven by a stronger positive association between craving and cigarettes per day for ES (t = 4.96, p < .0001) versus MMT-ES (t = 2.03, p = .04). Within MMT-ES, the relationship between craving and cigarettes per day decreased as treatment completion increased (F(1,104) = 4.44, p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Although mindfulness training via smartphone app did not lead to reduced smoking rates compared with control, our findings provide preliminary evidence that mindfulness training via smartphone app may help lessen the association between craving and smoking, an effect that may be meaningful to support quitting in the longer term. IMPLICATIONS: This is the first reported full-scale randomized controlled trial of any smartphone app for smoking cessation. Findings provide preliminary evidence that smartphone app-based MMT-ES may lessen the association between craving and smoking. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02134509.