Mobile Phone-Based Personalized and Interactive Augmented Reality Pictorial Health Warnings for Enhancing a Brief
Ziqiu Guo1, Yongda Wu1,2, Man Ping Wang1
1School of Nursing The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China (Hong Kong).
JMIR XR and Spatial Computing
|May 18, 2026
Summary
Augmented reality (AR) pictorial health warnings (PHWs) show promise for smoking cessation. This pilot study found AR PHWs feasible and suggests they may aid smokers in quitting, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health Interventions
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Augmented reality (AR) is an emerging technology for health interventions.
- Previous studies on AR for smoking prevention focused on non-smokers.
- The effectiveness of AR for smoking cessation (SC) in adult smokers is underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of AR pictorial health warnings (PHWs) on cigarette packs for smoking cessation.
- To assess user engagement and perceived impact of interactive AR PHWs.
Main Methods:
- A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with adult daily smokers in Hong Kong.
- Participants received standard SC advice and support, with the intervention group receiving AR PHWs.
- AR PHWs were interactive, adjustable to smoking behaviors, and visualized adverse health consequences.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed higher, though not statistically significant, rates of 7-day point-prevalence abstinence (18% vs 13%) and quit attempts (38% vs 28%) at 3 months.
- 43% of the intervention group viewed the AR PHWs, indicating feasibility.
- Viewing AR PHWs was associated with higher abstinence rates (29% vs 9%) and reported positive effects on knowledge and motivation to quit.
Conclusions:
- Mobile-based, interactive AR PHWs are feasible for smoking cessation interventions.
- The preliminary effectiveness of AR PHWs for smoking abstinence requires further investigation in larger trials.
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