Combining app-based behavioral therapy with electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation: a study protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of preventable death and disease.
• Effective smoking cessation interventions are crucial for public health.
• Nuumi, a digital behavioral therapy and e-cigarette program, offers a potential solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the initial efficacy, acceptability, and psychological outcomes of the Nuumi intervention.
• To evaluate an evidence-based smoking cessation program for motivated adult smokers.
• To explore the feasibility of a novel mobile health approach for smoking cessation.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month, single-arm, mixed-methods pilot study involving 70 adult smokers.
• Participants used a Bluetooth-enabled e-cigarette linked to a behavioral therapy app.
• Data collected via surveys and interviews over 24 weeks.

Main Results:

• Primary outcomes include 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 12 and 24 weeks.
• Secondary outcomes assess smoking cessation, psychological well-being, and intervention acceptability.
• Quantitative and qualitative data analyses will be performed.

Conclusions:

• This research addresses the significant public health burden of tobacco smoking.
• Findings will offer insights into the efficacy and acceptability of a novel mHealth smoking cessation intervention.
• Results will guide the design of future randomized controlled trials.