Preferences for Mobile-Supported e-Cigarette Cessation Interventions Among Young Adults: Qualitative Descriptive...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is rising among young adults, with a concurrent desire to quit.
• Smartphone apps offer a promising avenue for e-cigarette cessation interventions due to user engagement potential.
• Limited research exists on young adults' specific preferences for app-based cessation tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore young adults' preferences and perceptions regarding mobile app interventions for e-cigarette cessation.
• To gather insights for designing effective digital health tools tailored to young adult cessation needs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative descriptive study involving interviews with 12 young adults seeking to quit e-cigarettes.
• Inductive thematic analysis using framework analysis and NVivo 12 software to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Participants found smartphone apps desirable for cessation support.
• Key preferences included: flexible goal setting, e-cigarette behavior tracking, anonymous/moderated social support, and positive notifications.
• Gender differences noted: women used e-cigarettes for stress, preferred aesthetic customization, and were less likely to quit abruptly.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer crucial direction for developing and evaluating app-based e-cigarette cessation interventions for young adults.
• The identified preferences can inform the design of user-centered digital health tools for smoking cessation.