Assessing the Quality and Behavior Change Potential of Vaping Cessation Apps: Systematic Search and Assessment

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Vaping (e-cigarette) use is increasing, necessitating effective cessation support.
• Smartphone health apps are popular, but their role in vaping cessation is under-researched.
• Growing evidence highlights the harms associated with vaping, increasing the need for accessible interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically search and assess the quality and behavior change potential of available vaping cessation apps in Australia.
• To identify the strengths and weaknesses of current vaping cessation apps.
• To provide recommendations for improving future app development for smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of Australian iOS and Android app stores for vaping cessation apps.
• Assessment of apps using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) for quality and the App Behavior Change Scale (ABACUS) for behavior change potential.
• Inclusion criteria focused on apps specifically encouraging vaping cessation.

Main Results:

• 20 iOS and 10 Android apps were reviewed, with an average MARS quality score of 3.1/5.
• Apps generally scored well on functionality but lower on information credibility.
• The number of behavior change features (ABACUS) ranged from 0-19, with a mean of 8.9/21; goal-setting features were least common.

Conclusions:

• Vaping cessation apps possess moderate quality and some behavior change capabilities.
• Future app development should incorporate more goal-setting and feedback mechanisms to enhance efficacy.
• Alignment with established vaping cessation guidelines is crucial for future app development.