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What Do Smokers Want in A Smartphone-Based Cessation Application?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Oliver, JA; Hallyburton, MB; Pacek, LR; Mitchell, JT; Vilardaga, R; Fuemmeler, BF; McClernon, FJ
Published in: Nicotine Tob Res
November 15, 2018

BACKGROUND: Fueled by rapid technological advances over the past decade, there is growing interest in the use of smartphones to aid in smoking cessation. Hundreds of applications have been developed for this purpose, but little is known about how these applications are accessed and used by smokers or what features smokers believe would be most useful. PURPOSE: The present study sought to understand the prevalence of smartphone ownership and patterns of use among smokers as well as the perceived utility of various smartphone application features for smoking cessation that are currently in development or already available. METHODS: Daily cigarette smokers (n = 224) reported on smartphone ownership, their patterns of smartphone usage, and perceived utility of features. Features were ranked according to perceived utility and differences in both perceived utility and general smartphone use patterns were examined as a function of demographic and smoking-related variables. RESULTS: Most smokers (80.4%) own a smartphone, but experience with smoking cessation applications is extremely rare (6.1%). Ownership and patterns of usage differed as a function of demographic and smoking-related variables. Overall, gain-framed features were rated as most useful, while loss-framed and interpersonal features were rated as least useful. CONCLUSIONS: Mobile health interventions have the potential to reach a large number of smokers but are currently underutilized. Additional effort is needed to ensure parity in treatment access. Gain-framed messages may be especially useful for engaging smokers, even if other features ultimately drive treatment effects. IMPLICATIONS: This study describes patterns of smartphone usage among smokers and identifies the smartphone application features smokers believe would be most useful during a quit attempt. Findings indicate which subgroups of smokers are most likely to be reached with mobile health interventions and suggests that inclusion of specific features may be helpful for engaging smokers in the smoking cessation process.

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Published In

Nicotine Tob Res

DOI

EISSN

1469-994X

Publication Date

November 15, 2018

Volume

20

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1507 / 1514

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Telemedicine
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Smoking
  • Smokers
  • Smartphone
  • Public Health
  • Prevalence
  • Mobile Applications
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

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Oliver, J. A., Hallyburton, M. B., Pacek, L. R., Mitchell, J. T., Vilardaga, R., Fuemmeler, B. F., & McClernon, F. J. (2018). What Do Smokers Want in A Smartphone-Based Cessation Application? Nicotine Tob Res, 20(12), 1507–1514. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx171
Oliver, Jason A., Matthew B. Hallyburton, Lauren R. Pacek, John T. Mitchell, Roger Vilardaga, Bernard F. Fuemmeler, and F Joseph McClernon. “What Do Smokers Want in A Smartphone-Based Cessation Application?Nicotine Tob Res 20, no. 12 (November 15, 2018): 1507–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx171.
Oliver JA, Hallyburton MB, Pacek LR, Mitchell JT, Vilardaga R, Fuemmeler BF, et al. What Do Smokers Want in A Smartphone-Based Cessation Application? Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Nov 15;20(12):1507–14.
Oliver, Jason A., et al. “What Do Smokers Want in A Smartphone-Based Cessation Application?Nicotine Tob Res, vol. 20, no. 12, Nov. 2018, pp. 1507–14. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/ntr/ntx171.
Oliver JA, Hallyburton MB, Pacek LR, Mitchell JT, Vilardaga R, Fuemmeler BF, McClernon FJ. What Do Smokers Want in A Smartphone-Based Cessation Application? Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Nov 15;20(12):1507–1514.
Journal cover image

Published In

Nicotine Tob Res

DOI

EISSN

1469-994X

Publication Date

November 15, 2018

Volume

20

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1507 / 1514

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Telemedicine
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Smoking
  • Smokers
  • Smartphone
  • Public Health
  • Prevalence
  • Mobile Applications
  • Middle Aged
  • Male