Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
04:54
Iterative Development of an Innovative Smartphone-Based Dietary Assessment Tool: Traqq
Published on: March 19, 2021
4.9K
Randomized, controlled pilot trial of a smartphone app for smoking cessation using acceptance and commitment therapy
Jonathan B Bricker1, Kristin E Mull2, Julie A Kientz3
1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109, USA; University of Washington, Department of Psychology, Box 351525, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|August 3, 2014
Summary
A new smartphone app using acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for smoking cessation showed higher user engagement and promising quit rates compared to standard guidelines. Further trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Area of Science:
- Digital health interventions
- Behavioral science
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Smartphone applications are needed for smoking cessation.
- Controlled trials are necessary to evaluate app efficacy.
- This study tested a novel smartphone-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) app against US Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a smartphone-delivered ACT smoking cessation app.
- To examine the mechanism of behavioral change.
- To compare the ACT app (SmartQuit) with the National Cancer Institute's QuitGuide app.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted.
- 196 adult participants were recruited nationally.
- Participants used either the SmartQuit (ACT) or QuitGuide app.
Main Results:
- SmartQuit users opened the app significantly more than QuitGuide users (37.2 vs. 15.2 times).
- Overall quit rates were 13% for SmartQuit versus 8% for QuitGuide.
- Among participants with low baseline acceptance of cravings, SmartQuit showed higher quit rates (15% vs. 8%).
Conclusions:
- Smartphone-delivered ACT is feasible for smoking cessation.
- The ACT app demonstrated higher engagement and promising quit rates.
- A full-scale efficacy trial is warranted due to the pilot study's limitations.
