Innovative Approach: Integrating Mobile Apps with Healthcare Support for Reluctant Smokers Seeking to Quit
4 April 2025 · Uncategorized ·
For long-time smokers, cigarettes are akin to a bad friend that's hard to shake off. Although they know it may lead to health problems, many find themselves unable to make up their minds about quitting smoking. They understand the dangers of tobacco but often adopt an attitude of 'let me wait and see.' Recently, scientists from The University of Hong Kong have designed a personalized quit-smoking strategy that combines mobile technology with human warmth for those who are not yet ready to say goodbye to cigarettes. This approach has successfully helped many smokers break free from nicotine addiction; the results were published in JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) recently.
Traditional smoking cessation methods usually assume strong motivation among smokers, but due to a lack of personalized guidance and insufficient immediate support, as well as setbacks caused by withdrawal symptoms, they often fail for those without firm resolve. To address this issue, researchers designed more personal and practical ways to gradually foster quitting intentions while providing substantial assistance throughout the process.
The study recruited 459 smokers in Hong Kong with an average age of 36.7 years who had not used any smoking cessation services or medications within seven days prior nor intended to quit over the next month. Participants were required to report their daily smoking status and related triggers, such as stress and social situations via a smartphone app for one week.
Subsequently, participants were randomly divided into two groups: The intervention group (231 people) received about 20 minutes of personalized phone counseling aimed at increasing awareness of personal smoking behavior. They also developed individualized plans to gradually reduce their cigarette consumption while receiving real-time support through instant messaging. In contrast, the control group (228 individuals) did not receive additional interventions.
Three months later, researchers found that smokers in the intervention group were 2.5 times more successful at quitting compared with those in the control group and this effect persisted six months after the study began. Moreover, participants showed a greater willingness to use smoking cessation services or medications during research participation. They generally felt that healthcare providers' phone consultations and real-time support significantly boosted their motivation for quitting successfully.
The team is excited about how these methods can promote smoking cessation by using smartphone apps to record smokers’ behavior patterns combined with professional guidance and immediate consultation, which effectively increases the quit rate while encouraging people to seek more active assistance. As technology advances, smartphones are increasingly used in healthcare fields; however, their effectiveness for quitting alone remains controversial. But when integrated into a strategy like this study's approach—combining professionals' advice and support—their impact can be greatly enhanced.
(Lead image source: pixabay)
Traditional smoking cessation methods usually assume strong motivation among smokers, but due to a lack of personalized guidance and insufficient immediate support, as well as setbacks caused by withdrawal symptoms, they often fail for those without firm resolve. To address this issue, researchers designed more personal and practical ways to gradually foster quitting intentions while providing substantial assistance throughout the process.
The study recruited 459 smokers in Hong Kong with an average age of 36.7 years who had not used any smoking cessation services or medications within seven days prior nor intended to quit over the next month. Participants were required to report their daily smoking status and related triggers, such as stress and social situations via a smartphone app for one week.
Subsequently, participants were randomly divided into two groups: The intervention group (231 people) received about 20 minutes of personalized phone counseling aimed at increasing awareness of personal smoking behavior. They also developed individualized plans to gradually reduce their cigarette consumption while receiving real-time support through instant messaging. In contrast, the control group (228 individuals) did not receive additional interventions.
Three months later, researchers found that smokers in the intervention group were 2.5 times more successful at quitting compared with those in the control group and this effect persisted six months after the study began. Moreover, participants showed a greater willingness to use smoking cessation services or medications during research participation. They generally felt that healthcare providers' phone consultations and real-time support significantly boosted their motivation for quitting successfully.
The team is excited about how these methods can promote smoking cessation by using smartphone apps to record smokers’ behavior patterns combined with professional guidance and immediate consultation, which effectively increases the quit rate while encouraging people to seek more active assistance. As technology advances, smartphones are increasingly used in healthcare fields; however, their effectiveness for quitting alone remains controversial. But when integrated into a strategy like this study's approach—combining professionals' advice and support—their impact can be greatly enhanced.
(Lead image source: pixabay)