A study from the University of East Anglia found that a mobile quit app that senses when and where you start smoking could help you quit.
Quit Sense is the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) quit smoking app that detects when someone enters a smoking area. It then provides support for managing specific smoking triggers for people in that location.
Research released today shows how the new app helped smokers quit more than smokers who were provided only online NHS support. By allowing people to manage trigger situations, the research team hopes the new app will help more smokers quit.
works are published in nicotine and tobacco research.
Principal investigator Professor Felix Naughton of UEA’s School of Health Sciences said: For example, there are no existing methods of providing support to help smokers cope with this type of situation or urge, other than through the use of medication. ”
Dr Chloe Siegele-Brown of the University of Cambridge, who created the app, said: Allows users to manage smoking urges in real time. ”
Professor Norton added, “Helping people who are trying to quit to learn about and deal with these situations is a new way to increase the smokers’ chances of successfully quitting.”
The research team conducted a randomized controlled trial with 209 smokers recruited through social media. A link was sent by text message to access the assigned treatment. All participants received a link to the NHS’s online smoking cessation support, but only half additionally received the Quit Sense app.
Six months later, participants were asked to complete follow-up measures online, and those who reported quitting were asked to mail in a saliva sample to confirm their cessation.
Professor Norton said: Apps provided quit smoking apps after 6 months compared to apps that provided online NHS support only. ”
The researchers note that one limitation of this relatively small study was that less than half of the people who reported quitting smoking returned their saliva samples to confirm they had quit. More research is needed to more accurately estimate the effectiveness of the app.
Health Secretary Neil O’Brien said: “Technology and smartphones are playing a role in reducing smoking rates. That’s why we have plans to consider using QR codes in cigarette pack inserts to get people to quit. Smoking support.
“Better use of technology, combined with the world’s first national ‘swap to stop’ scheme and economic incentives and behavioral support for pregnant women, will help us reach the goal of quitting smoking by 2030 and help reduce the number of smoking diseases. Get treatment and reduce NHS wait times. ”
The study was led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with researchers from Cambridge University, Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, University of Nottingham, King’s College London, University College London and Imperial College London.
For more information:
Felix Naughton et al, An automated online feasibility randomized controlled trial of a just-in-time adaptive intervention (Quit Sense) for smoking cessation, (2023). DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntad032
Journal information:
nicotine and tobacco research
