Digital Smoking Cessation With a Comprehensive Guideline-Based App-Results of a Nationwide, Multicentric, Parallel,...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Public Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Tobacco smoking presents significant health risks.
• Digital cessation support offers a scalable way to reach smokers with evidence-based interventions.
• Guideline-based smoking cessation support is crucial for effective quitting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a guideline-based digital smoking cessation app, NichtraucherHelden®.
• To test the hypothesis that app-based support leads to higher smoking cessation rates compared to standard care.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of smartphone app-delivered cessation support within the German healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide, multicentric, prospective, parallel, randomized controlled trial was conducted in Germany.
• Adult tobacco-dependent smokers were recruited from medical practices and study centers.
• Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive either brief advice plus the NichtraucherHelden® app (intervention group) or brief advice alone (control group).
• The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point abstinence at 6 months, analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach.

Main Results:

• The intervention group using the app achieved a significantly higher 7-day point abstinence rate (20%) compared to the control group (10%), with an odds ratio of 2.2.
• Prolonged abstinence and biochemically verified abstinence rates were also significantly higher in the app intervention group.
• The study demonstrated the app's ability to double the abstinence rate among participants.

Conclusions:

• The NichtraucherHelden® app is effective in increasing smoking cessation rates, doubling the abstinence rate compared to standard brief advice.
• Smartphone apps can effectively bridge the gap between limited traditional cessation services and the demand for modern, evidence-based support.
• This study provides the first evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of guideline-based digital smoking cessation via smartphone app for the German statutory health insurance system.