Using SmartQuit®, an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Smartphone application, to reduce smoking intake

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health Interventions
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Smoking cessation remains a significant public health challenge.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a novel approach to behavioral change.
• Smartphone applications (apps) present scalable platforms for delivering interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the SmartQuit® app in reducing cigarette consumption.
• To assess the impact of the app on smoking cravings.
• To examine the long-term effectiveness of the intervention in a New Zealand population.

Main Methods:

• A single-subject (A-B-A) research design was employed with 10 participants.
• Participants self-monitored daily cigarette intake and cravings.
• Intervention involved using the SmartQuit® app, followed by post-intervention data collection and long-term follow-up.

Main Results:

• SmartQuit® use led to a significant short-term reduction in daily cigarette intake.
• Three participants achieved sustained smoking abstinence up to 13 months post-intervention.
• While not statistically significant, a trend towards decreasing smoking cravings was observed.

Conclusions:

• The SmartQuit® app is a viable and accessible tool for smoking cessation.
• The intervention shows promise for use within the New Zealand population.
• Further research can explore optimizing app features to further reduce cravings.