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Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Vilardaga, R; Rizo, J; Palenski, PE; Mannelli, P; Oliver, JA; Mcclernon, FJ
Published in: Nicotine Tob Res
August 24, 2020

INTRODUCTION: High rates of tobacco use among people with serious mental illness (SMI), along with their unique needs, suggest the importance of developing tailored smoking cessation interventions for this group. Previous early-phase work empirically validated the design and content of Learn to Quit, a theory-based app designed for this population. METHODS: In a pilot randomized controlled trial, we compared the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Learn to Quit versus QuitGuide, an app designed for the general population. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and technical assistance. Daily smokers with SMI (N = 62) participated in the trial with outcomes assessed at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. RESULTS: Compared to QuitGuide, Learn to Quit participants had similar number of days of app use (34 vs. 32, p = .754), but larger number of app interactions (335 vs. 205; p = .001), longer durations of app use (4.24 hrs. vs. 2.14 hrs; p = .044), and higher usability scores (85 vs. 79, p = .046). At week 16, Learn to Quit led to greater reductions in cigarettes per day (12.3 vs. 5.9 for QuitGuide; p = 0.10). Thirty-day point prevalence abstinence was verified in 12% of Learn to Quit participants versus 3% of QuitGuide participants (odds ratio = 3.86, confidence interval = 0.41 to 36, p = .239). Changes in psychiatric symptoms and adverse events were not clinically significant between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot trial provides strong evidence of Learn to Quit's usability, feasibility, and safety. Preliminary evidence suggests the app may be efficacious. A randomized controlled efficacy trial is needed to test the app in a larger sample of smokers with SMI. IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that the Learn to Quit app is a feasible approach to deliver smoking cessation treatment in patients with co-occurring tobacco use disorder and SMI. This means that, if found efficacious, this technology could be used to deploy smoking cessation treatment to larger segments of this population, hence improving public health. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial should be conducted to examine the efficacy of this digital intervention.

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Published In

Nicotine Tob Res

DOI

EISSN

1469-994X

Publication Date

August 24, 2020

Volume

22

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1533 / 1542

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Tobacco Use Disorder
  • Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
  • Telemedicine
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Smokers
  • Public Health
  • Pilot Projects
  • North Carolina
  • Mobile Applications
  • Middle Aged
 

Citation

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Vilardaga, R., Rizo, J., Palenski, P. E., Mannelli, P., Oliver, J. A., & Mcclernon, F. J. (2020). Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness. Nicotine Tob Res, 22(9), 1533–1542. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntz202
Vilardaga, Roger, Javier Rizo, Paige E. Palenski, Paolo Mannelli, Jason A. Oliver, and Francis J. Mcclernon. “Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness.Nicotine Tob Res 22, no. 9 (August 24, 2020): 1533–42. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntz202.
Vilardaga R, Rizo J, Palenski PE, Mannelli P, Oliver JA, Mcclernon FJ. Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020 Aug 24;22(9):1533–42.
Vilardaga, Roger, et al. “Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness.Nicotine Tob Res, vol. 22, no. 9, Aug. 2020, pp. 1533–42. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/ntr/ntz202.
Vilardaga R, Rizo J, Palenski PE, Mannelli P, Oliver JA, Mcclernon FJ. Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020 Aug 24;22(9):1533–1542.
Journal cover image

Published In

Nicotine Tob Res

DOI

EISSN

1469-994X

Publication Date

August 24, 2020

Volume

22

Issue

9

Start / End Page

1533 / 1542

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Tobacco Use Disorder
  • Tobacco Use Cessation Devices
  • Telemedicine
  • Smoking Cessation
  • Smokers
  • Public Health
  • Pilot Projects
  • North Carolina
  • Mobile Applications
  • Middle Aged