Smoking cessation message testing to inform app-based interventions for young adults - an online experiment
Josef Hamoud1, Janardan Devkota2, Timothy Regan3
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Statistics, University of Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany.
BMC Public Health
|May 20, 2025
Summary
Digital smoking cessation messages based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy were similarly rated by young adults. Revisions are needed to improve appeal for women, sexual or gender minority (SGM) individuals, and those less motivated to quit smoking.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Digital smoking cessation interventions require messages tailored for young adults.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offer distinct approaches to message development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare young adult smokers' ratings of CBT- (distraction) and ACT- (acceptance) based smoking cessation messages.
- To identify participant characteristics influencing message acceptability.
Main Methods:
- 301 young adult smokers rated 124 intervention messages on content, design, and perceived support for quitting/urge coping.
- Mixed models analyzed message ratings based on message category and participant variables.
Main Results:
- Distraction and acceptance messages received similar overall ratings.
- Male participants rated messages more favorably for coping and quitting support.
- Higher motivation to quit correlated with more favorable ratings across all dimensions.
Conclusions:
- Both CBT and ACT message themes were similarly rated by young adult smokers.
- Message refinement is recommended to enhance appeal for specific demographic groups.
- Messages will be tested in a micro-randomized trial for real-time impact on urges and behavior.
