Developing and testing a smoking cessation app in Arabic language: A pilot randomized trial study protocol
Ola Soudah1, Mo'men Aldalal'ah1, Alameen Alsabbah1
1Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Background:
Tobacco consumption in the Middle East is very high. Many smoking cessation apps effectively reduce smoking rates, yet few smoking cessation apps are tailored to the region. To date, smoking cessation apps in Arabic are mostly translated from English, with no studies assessing their efficacy. Additionally, these apps often fail to address cultural differences. The purpose of this study is to develop a smoking cessation app in Arabic (iEndSmokin, أنهيت التدخين) and to examine its feasibility and efficacy. The app will incorporate evidence-based 5As, 5Rs, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Method:
In this pilot randomized trial, adults who smoke will be randomized and allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the app intervention group (using the app) or the control group. Participants in the control arm will attend educational sessions. The intervention will last for 3 months, and participants will be followed for 6 months. A total of 200 adults who smoke willing to quit will be recruited between October and November 2025 (or until recruitment is complete). The study will run from December 2025 to May 2026, with follow-ups at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Data will be analyzed using an intention-to-treat approach.
Results:
The primary outcome will be 30-day point prevalence of smoking abstinence with biochemically confirmed cessation via normal saliva cotinine levels at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include either a 7-day point prevalence abstinence verified by saliva cotinine levels, and a ≥ 20% reduction in smoking rate. Long-term abstinence will be assessed at 6 months' post-intervention.
Conclusion:
Developing a culturally sensitive smoking cessation app to be available for the majority of adults who smoke for free that adhere to clinical guideline is a promising low-cost solution to promote behavioral change. We hypothesize that the iEndSmokin App will be an effective, accessible, and feasible smoking cessation tool for Arabic-speaking populations.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06766227.
