Mobile Chat Messaging for Smoking Relapse Prevention: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Digital Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Smoking cessation relapse remains high despite evidence-based treatments.
• Mobile interventions present a promising, yet under-explored, strategy for sustained cessation.
• Developing scalable solutions is crucial for widespread public health impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of mobile chat messaging for preventing smoking relapse in recent quitters.
• To assess the impact of a digital intervention on maintaining tobacco abstinence.

Main Methods:

• A randomized clinical trial involving adults who recently quit smoking.
• Intervention group received 3 months of mobile chat support (live counselor and chatbot).
• Control group received generic smoking cessation advice via text messages.

Main Results:

• The mobile chat intervention group showed significantly higher biochemically validated abstinence at 6 months (45.9% vs 35.5%).
• Higher rates of prolonged abstinence and 7-day point prevalence abstinence were observed in the intervention group.
• The intervention group experienced a significantly lower relapse rate compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

• Mobile chat messaging is an effective strategy for smoking relapse prevention.
• This digital approach offers a scalable method to support sustained smoking abstinence.
• The findings support the integration of mobile health interventions in smoking cessation programs.