Long-Term Outcomes of a Comprehensive Mobile Smoking Cessation Program With Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Adult...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Interventions
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Smartphone adoption has spurred mobile smoking cessation programs.
• Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is growing, but long-term data on cessation durability is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare 52-week smoking cessation outcomes between the mobile program Pivot and a control (QuitGuide).
• To assess secondary outcomes including smoking behaviors, participant feedback, and factors associated with cessation.

Main Methods:

• A remote pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 188 adult smokers in the US.
• Participants received 12 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and were randomized to Pivot or QuitGuide.
• Outcomes included self-reported and biochemically confirmed abstinence, quit attempts, cigarettes per day (CPD), self-efficacy, and participant feedback.

Main Results:

• The Pivot group showed significantly higher rates of biochemically confirmed abstinence (31% vs 18%) and continuous abstinence (19% vs 9%) at 52 weeks.
• Pivot participants reported higher self-efficacy, while QuitGuide participants made more quit attempts and achieved greater CPD reduction.
• Both programs were perceived positively by participants who achieved abstinence.

Conclusions:

• The Pivot mobile smoking cessation program shows sustained effectiveness for long-term smoking cessation.
• This pilot study supports the use of mobile health interventions for durable smoking cessation outcomes.